DIMER-ROW PATTERN-FORMATION IN DIAMOND(100) GROWTH

Molecular dynamics based on quantum-mechanical semiempirical and densi ty functional potentials were applied to study step pattern formation on diamond (100) surfaces, Growth conditions near different types of m onoatomic steps were compared and found to be unaffected by the nature of the steps. Instead, a mechanism based on surface diffusion of chem isorbed species is proposed to explain experimental observations. The proposed mechanism indicates that a dimer row serves as an attractor f or migrating adspecies.