MESOSCOPIC MODELING IN THE KINETIC-THEORY OF ADSORBATES

A mesoscopic description of surface chemical reactions, aimed to provi de a Link between microscopic lattice models and reaction-diffusion eq uations, is formulated. Such a description is needed when large popula tions of nanoscale structures are considered or patterns characterized by a combination of macroscopic and microscopic lengths are investiga ted. By using the example of an adsorbate with attractive lateral inte ractions between molecules, the mesoscopic evolution equation for fluc tuating coverages is derived from the microscopic master equation of t he respective kinetic lattice model. This stochastic equation is appli ed to study phenomena of pattern formation related to adsorbate phase transitions.