SMOOTHING OF CRYSTAL-SURFACES DURING GROWTH INTERRUPTION

The evolution of a crystal surface during growth interruption when ada tom diffusion along the surface is the prevailing smoothing process is studied both theoretically and numerically. During this process, 2D i slands and holes interact via adatom diffusion changing their sizes an d making the surface smoother. Surface smoothing is described in terms of two main processes that determine mode and rate of surface smoothi ng: Ostwald ripening of islands and capturing of adatoms wandering on the surface by the holes. This description offers to determine reflect ion high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) specular intensity in a s tep-density approximation.