Thermal anisotropic roughening of vicinal surfaces is well known and well studied. Here, we consider the possibility that a separate pre-roughening transition might take place, prior to roughening. Within the framework of a terrace-step-kink model, we identify possible interaction mechanisms for promoting pre-roughening (PR) and the ensuing disordered flat (DOF) phase. In particular, the most likely to occur in real systems is a short-range repulsion between equally oriented parallel kinks. When this interaction is strong, PR shows up and the DOF phase is characterized by antiparallel order of kinks within a step. Next, we discuss the relevance of this scenario for real vicinals, in particular Ag(115), where high-accuracy scanning tunnelling microscopy data are available.

Kink-kink interactions and pre-roughening of vicinal surfaces / Prestipino, S.; Jagla, E. A.; Tosatti, Erio. - In: PHILOSOPHICAL MAGAZINE. B. PHYSICS OF CONDENSED MATTER. STATISTICAL MECHANICS, ELECTRONIC, OPTICAL AND MAGNETIC PROPERTIES. - ISSN 1364-2812. - 81:7(2001), pp. 637-674. [10.1080/13642810108205769]

Kink-kink interactions and pre-roughening of vicinal surfaces

Tosatti, Erio
2001-01-01

Abstract

Thermal anisotropic roughening of vicinal surfaces is well known and well studied. Here, we consider the possibility that a separate pre-roughening transition might take place, prior to roughening. Within the framework of a terrace-step-kink model, we identify possible interaction mechanisms for promoting pre-roughening (PR) and the ensuing disordered flat (DOF) phase. In particular, the most likely to occur in real systems is a short-range repulsion between equally oriented parallel kinks. When this interaction is strong, PR shows up and the DOF phase is characterized by antiparallel order of kinks within a step. Next, we discuss the relevance of this scenario for real vicinals, in particular Ag(115), where high-accuracy scanning tunnelling microscopy data are available.
2001
81
7
637
674
Prestipino, S.; Jagla, E. A.; Tosatti, Erio
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11767/30453
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