SINGLE JUMP MECHANISMS FOR LARGE CLUSTER DIFFUSION ON METAL-SURFACES

The random motion of large, two-dimensional adatom clusters and vacancy clusters over a metal surface is described by a diffusion coefficient D proportional to d(-n), where d is the diameter of the cluster and the integer n identifies the diffusion mechanism. For circular clusters, n = 3 when center-of-mass motion occurs by adatom diffusion along the periphery of the cluster, while n = 2 or 1 when cluster diffusion occurs by correlated or uncorrelated adatom evaporation and condensation, respectively. A faceted adatom cluster diffuses by evaporation and condensation of facet ledges, giving n = 0 when cluster diffusion is determined by the rate at which erosion of a ledge is initiated.