Ordering Phenomena on Growing Films

Abstract

In many growth processes particles are highly mobile in an active layer at the surface, but are relatively immobile once incorporated in the bulk. We study models in which atoms are allowed to interact, equilibrate, and order on the surface, but are frozen in the bulk. Order parameter correlations in the resulting bulk material are highly anisotropic, reflecting its growth history. In a flat (layer by layer) growth mode, correlations perpendicular to the growth direction are similar to a two dimensional system in equilibrium, while parallel correlations reflect the dynamics of such a system. When the growing film is rough, various couplings between height and order parameter fluctuations are possible. Such couplings modify the dynamic scaling properties of surface roughness, and may also change the critical behavior of the order parameter. Even the deterministic growth of the surface profile can result in interesting textures for the order parameter.