Desynchronization mode of 2D-island creation on the vicinal surface during MBE growth

The desynchronization mode of 2D-islands creation on the vicinal crystal surface during MBE growth was investigated by Monte Carlo simulation. The behavior of perimeter oscillations of islands on flat and stepped (100) surfaces of a simple cubic crystal was compared. Distribution of 2D-islands sizes with the monolayer number in the same coverage phase was considered. During simulation self-organizing stationary asynchronous structure of islands on the stepped surface was observed, causing damping of perimeter oscillations. This structure caused damping of oscillations of the perimeter under conditions when continuous oscillations were observed on a flat surface. A model of self-organizing asynchronous structure connected exclusively with steps was proposed. An obligatory condition of its occurrence is coexistence of two modes of monolayer coverage: step flow and two-dimensional nucleation growth. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.