Note on ‘rate equation approaches to thin film nucleation kinetics’ by J. A. Venables

Abstract

As an addition to the preceding paper by J. A. Venables some experimental data, originating from condensation experiments with gold on u.h.v.-cleaved rocksalt, are presented. The spatial distribution of the nuclei appearing on the substrate is not completely random. It is demonstrated that an explanation of the observed discrepancies is possible on the basis of the concept of a locally modified adatom concentration. The cluster size distribution histograms show a strong dependence of the number of clusters on their diameter. These histograms also indicate that coalescence events occur even at very early stages of growth. This is supposed to be due to the cluster mobility.