Role of cluster transient mobility in pulsed laser deposition-type growth kinetics

Phys Rev Lett. 2007 Jan 19;98(3):036104. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.036104. Epub 2007 Jan 17.

Abstract

The ballistic motion of kinetically hyperthermal clusters on corrugated potential energy surfaces is studied by molecular dynamics simulations. Under pulsed laser deposition conditions, such clusters are generated due to the supersaturation flux and nonthermal energies of the incident species, a fraction of which is transferred to the clusters. This energy transfer, together with the flattening of the potential energy surface due to the cluster inner bonds, causes a lengthening of the ballistic paths as the cluster size increases. These results help explain the enhancement of growth kinetics by pulsed laser deposition.