Modelling sublimation and atomic layer epitaxy in the presence of competing surface reconstructions

We present a solid-on-solid model of a binary AB compound, where atoms of t ype A in the topmost layer interact via anisotropic interactions different from those inside the bulk. Depending on temperature and particle flux, thi s model displays surface reconstructions similar to those of (001) surfaces of II-VI semiconductors. We show, that our model qualitatively reproduces many of the characteristic features of these materials which have been obse rved during sublimation and atomic layer epitaxy. We predict some previousl y unknown effects which might be observed experimentally. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.