Island-corner barrier effect in two-dimensional pattern formation at surfaces

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Abstract
Using rate-equation analysis, kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, and embedded-atom model calculations, we establish the crucial importance of island-corner crossing in determining the island morphology during submonolayer epitaxy. We show that compact islands can be formed only if adatoms can frequently cross island corners; conversely, without effective corner crossing the islands must be noncompact with fractional dimensionality. These conclusions provide the basis for understanding initial island morphologies in existing experiments.