Next: Introduction
Shape Evolution by Surface Diffusion and Surface Attachment
Limited Kinetics on Completely Faceted Surfaces
W. C. Carter, A. R. Roosen and J. W. Cahn
Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory
NIST, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
and
J. E. Taylor
Mathematics Dept., Rutgers University
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Abstract:
The evolution of two-dimensional shapes to equilibrium shapes is
investigated for two kinetic mechanisms, surface diffusion and
surface attachment limited kinetics. Qualitative differences are
found that may be used in experiments for easy distinction among
the two mechanisms, and find topological changes not expected for
the corresponding isotropic problems. We take advantage of the
mathematical developments for surface evolution and equilibration
problems when surface energy anisotropy is ``crystalline,'' so
extreme that crystals are fully faceted. We confirm the
prediction that with this anisotropy these problems are more easily
solvable than for lesser anisotropies, and the techniques developed
may even be useful for approximating isotropic problems.
with a volume
constraint