ATOMIC PROCESSES IN VACANCY ISLAND MOTION ON AG(111)

We present results of molecular dynamics simulations of the motion of monatomic-deep vacancy islands on Ag(lll), using interaction potential s from the embedded atom method. The individual processes appearing in a large set of runs, at three different temperatures, are identified From the statistics thus collected, we find that the predominant mecha nism underlying the diffusion of vacancy islands on Ag(111) is the dif fusion of atoms along the periphery of the vacancy islands. (C) 1997 E lsevier Science B.V.