Ab initio calculations and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that the quantum confinement of surface electrons to nanoislands can significantly affect the growth process at low temperatures. Formation of empty zones and orbits of an adatom motion is demonstrated for Cu nanoislands on Cu(111).
@article{arxiv.0805.2281,
title = {Effect of quantum confinement of surface electrons on an atomic motion on nanoislands},
author = {A. S. Smirnov and N. N. Negulyaev and L. Niebergall and W. Hergert and A. M. Saletsky and V. S. Stepanyuk},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0805.2281},
year = {2008}
}