Influence of step edge diffusion on surface morphology during epitaxy

The role of step edge diffusion in epitaxy is discussed using kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. Three models with different rates of edge diffusion are investigated. Increasing the rate of edge diffusion results in an early onset of second layer nucleation, pattern formation in thick films, and increased surface roughness. An expression for the uphill current due to edge diffusion is derived in the limit of fast edge diffusion.