Based on a generalized lattice gas theory and a Brownian dynamics simulatio
n, we show that the fluctuations of the mean square displacements of a crys
talline substrate coupled to the fluctuations of the adsorbate coverage may
induce critical behavior for both subsystems. It is shown that an increase
of the Lindemann parameter L-0 for the substrate driver the adsorbate to c
ondensate. An increase of the coverage fluctuations induces a local melting
of the substrate lattice, as this follows from an increase of the coverage
-dependent Lindemann parameter L. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.
V. All rights reserved.