Measurements of surface diffusivity and coarsening during pulsed laser deposition

JD Ferguson, G Arikan, DS Dale, AR Woll, JD Brock - Physical review letters, 2009 - APS
Physical review letters, 2009APS
Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) of homoepitaxial SrTiO 3⟨ 001⟩ was studied with in situ x-ray
specular reflectivity and surface diffuse x-ray scattering. Unlike prior reflecivity-based
studies, these measurements access both time and length scales of the evolution of the
surface morphology during growth. In particular, we show that this technique allows direct
measurements of the diffusivity for both inter-and intralayer transport. Our results explicitly
limit the possible role of island breakup, demonstrate the key roles played by nucleation and …
Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) of homoepitaxial was studied with in situ x-ray specular reflectivity and surface diffuse x-ray scattering. Unlike prior reflecivity-based studies, these measurements access both time and length scales of the evolution of the surface morphology during growth. In particular, we show that this technique allows direct measurements of the diffusivity for both inter- and intralayer transport. Our results explicitly limit the possible role of island breakup, demonstrate the key roles played by nucleation and coarsening in PLD, and place an upper bound on the Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier for downhill interlayer diffusion.
American Physical Society