Stochastic Mullins-Herring equation for a solid-on-solid crystal

Abstract
We derive a stochastic version of the Mullins-Herring equation—a continuum equation of motion for the relaxation of a solid surface to morphological equilibrium—for a two-dimensional solid-on-solid crystal. For Arrhenius-type desorption and surface diffusion kinetics, a linear Langevin equation describes the scaling behavior of the surface width. The final equation of motion is interpreted in terms of effective, macroscopic desorption and surface-diffusion parameters that reflect the full chemical activity of the surface.

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