SLOPE-SLOPE CORRELATIONS FOR SELF-AFFINE ROUGH SURFACES

The slope-slope correlation function N(r) is investigated for self-aff ine rough surfaces. Calculations of N(r) are performed in terms of ana lytic phenomenological height-height correlation functions, which howe ver compare well to real data. It is found that N(r) behaves as: N(r) proportional to r(2(H-1)) for 0 much less than r much less than xi, N( r) < 0 for r > xi and N(r) --> 0(-) for r --> + infinity. The paramete rs xi and H (0 < H < 1) are respectively the in-plene roughness correl ation length, and the roughness exponent. Moreover, connection of the results to model predictions describing stable and unstable growth is attempted. Copyright (C) 1996 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd