RESCALED MONTE-CARLO SIMULATIONS ON SURFACE NANOSTRUCTURES STABILIZEDBY IMPURITIES

In the present study we propose a Monte Carlo algorithm which includes a time-rescaling procedure, making feasible the simulation of systems characterized by the presence of very different time scales. We have applied this method to describe the disintegration of a cluster on a s urface taking into account the presence of a small concentration of im purities. The role of the impurities (when they interact attractively with cluster particles) is to enhance the cluster stability. This resu lt explains the long duration of nanostructures created on surfaces wh en experimental conditions are not well controlled.