Ratchet Effect in Surface Electromigration: Smoothing Surfaces by an ac Field
Statistical Mechanics
2009-10-31 v1
Abstract
We demonstrate that for surfaces that have a nonzero Schwoebel barrier the application of an ac field parallel to the surface induces a net electro- migration current that points in the descending step direction. The magnitude of the current is calculated analytically and compared with Monte Carlo simulations. Since a downhill current smoothes the surface, our results imply that the application of ac fields can aid the smoothing process during annealing and can slow or eliminate the Schwoebel-barrier-induced mound formation during growth.
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/9803028,
title = {Ratchet Effect in Surface Electromigration: Smoothing Surfaces by an ac Field},
author = {Imre Derenyi and Choongseop Lee and Albert-Laszlo Barabasi},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/9803028},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
4 pages, LaTeX, 4 ps figures