Eur. Phys. J. B 77, 57-63 (2010)
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

Abstract

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.