Evolution of Two-Dimensional Wormlike Nanoclusters on Metal Surfaces

Woei Wu Pai; John F. Wendelken; C. R. Stoldt; P. A. Thiel; J. W. Evans; Da-Jiang Liu

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.3088

Evolution of Two-Dimensional Wormlike Nanoclusters on Metal Surfaces

Woei Wu Pai, John F. Wendelken, C. R. Stoldt, P. A. Thiel, J. W. Evans, and Da-Jiang Liu

Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 3088 – Published 2 April 2001

Abstract

A pinch-off phenomenon is discovered in the evolution of 2D wormlike nanoclusters formed in homoepitaxial adlayers. This feature is shown to distinguish mass transport via periphery diffusion from other mechanisms. Continuum modeling of such evolution accurately describes experimental observations, particularly if one incorporates the anisotropy in step-edge line tension.

Received 21 November 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.3088

Authors & Affiliations

Woei Wu Pai^1,2,3 and John F. Wendelken¹

¹Solid State Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831
²Department of Physics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996
³Center for Condensed Matter Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taiwan 106

C. R. Stoldt¹, P. A. Thiel^1,3, J. W. Evans^2,3, and Da-Jiang Liu³