ELASTIC ENERGY OF STRAINED ISLANDS - CONTRIBUTION OF THE SUBSTRATE ASA FUNCTION OF THE ISLAND ASPECT RATIO AND INTER-ISLAND DISTANCE

The finite element method is applied to strain-induced islands. The di stribution of the elastic energy in the island and the substrate is de termined as a function of the island aspect ratio and inter-island dis tance. When the height-over-base ratio increases, the total elastic en ergy density decreases and the relative contribution of the substrate increases. When the inter-island distance decreases, the elastic energ y density increases and the relative contribution of the substrate dec reases. The influence of the aspect ratio on the relaxation rate is am plified for short inter-island distances. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.