ISLAND MIGRATION CAUSED BY THE MOTION OF THE ATOMS AT THE BORDER - SIZE AND TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENCE OF THE DIFFUSION-COEFFICIENT

The random motion of the atoms along the periphery of a two-dimensiona l island on a solid surface causes the island to diffuse. By using kin etic Monte Carlo simulations we show that the diffusion coefficient of the island has a power-law dependence on the island size. However, co ntrary to the predictions of simple models; the exponent depends on te mperature and on the nature of the material. [S0163-1829(98)51816-4].