PHYSICS OF SOLIDS AND MORPHOLOGY OF SURFACES

The morphology of surfaces is now an important field of research becau se of its direct connection with the industrial activity like manufact uring and optimising of functional criteria through complicated interf acial phenomena. Presently, characterization of the surface morphology , via the profile metrology, is well modelled by a statistical descrip tion. The use of shape morphological parameters allows to identify fea tures of the surface structures generated by the process techniques an d the emergence of the different phases of the condensed matter. Start ing from the solid state background knowledge, prediction of the surfa ce morphology appears as a tedious way. However, progress in the scien ce of the solids formation and industrial requirements promises the be st future for the physicists in such a new technological activity. Phi losophy and basic formalism of that approach is presented here.