MAGIC ISLANDS IN SI SI(111) HOMOEPITAXY

The island size distribution after submonolayer deposition of Si on Si (111) exhibits pronounced peaks of magic sizes. Scanning tunneling mic roscopy studies during growth enable us to study directly the influenc e of surface reconstructions on growth kinetics. Lateral growth of row s of the width of the 7 x 7 reconstruction unit cell leads to kinetic stabilization of magic islands. Monte Carlo calculations are performed that reproduce the main experimental results and make it possible to estimate important energy barriers.