Static lattice calculations have been used to calculate the surface energy
of a large number of surfaces along two arcs; for surface normals from [100
] to [110] in the (001) plane and from [001] to [110] in the (1 (1) over ba
r 0) plane. Results for vicinal surfaces have been analysed in terms of ste
ps and step-step interactions. Both repulsive and attractive interactions a
re observed, showing that this effect is strongly dependent on the configur
ation of step and terrace. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv
ed.