https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2010-00253-8
Atomic step motion during the dewetting of ultra-thin films
1
LPMCN, Université Lyon 1, 43 Bd du 11 novembre, 69622 Villeurbane, France
2
Laboratoire de Spectrométrie Physique, UJF Grenoble 1, BP 87, 38402 St Martin d'Hères, France
3
Universidade Federal Fluminense, Avenida Litorânea s/n, 24210-340 Niterói, RJ, Brazil
Corresponding author: a olivier.pierre-louis@lpmcn.univ-lyon1.fr
Received:
13
February
2010
Revised:
15
July
2010
Published online:
18
August
2010
We report on three key processes involving atomic step motion during the dewetting of thin solid films: (i) the growth of an isolated island nucleated far from a hole; (ii) the spreading of a monolayer rim; and (iii) the zipping of a monolayer island along a straight dewetting front. Kinetic Monte Carlo results are in good agreement with simple analytical models assuming diffusion-limited dynamics.
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2010