THE KINETIC POTTS-MODEL IN THE DESCRIPTION OF SURFACE DYNAMICS

A new model for the description of adsorption and desorption processes at the surface is proposed. The lattice gas version of the model is c ompared with other existing models. The lattice gas and the Potts mode l approaches to the surface kinetics are examined. Mean-field analysis of the kinetic Potts model is used to study the rates of isothermal a nd flash desorption processes. The change in the character of desorpti on with the phase transitions in the adatom layer is shown.