Evolution of Thin Film Morphology Modeling and Simulations [Hardcover]

The focus of this book is on modeling and simulations used in research on the morphological evolution during film growth. The authors emphasize the detailed mathematical formulation of the problem. The book will enable readers themselves to set up a computational program to investigate specific topics of interest in thin film deposition. It will benefit those working in any discipline that requires an understanding of thin film growth processes.

Thin?lmdepositionisthemostubiquitousandcriticaloftheprocessesusedto manufacture high-tech devices such as microprocessors, memories, solar cells, microelectromechanicalsystems(MEMS),lasers,solid-statelighting,andp- tovoltaics. The morphology and microstructure of thin ?lms directly controls their optical, magnetic, and electrical properties, which are often signi?cantly di?erent from bulk material properties. Precise control of morphology and microstructure during thin ?lm growth is paramount to producing the - sired ?lm quality for speci?c applications. To date, many thin ?lm deposition techniques have been employed for manufacturing ?lms, including thermal evaporation,sputterdeposition,chemicalvapordeposition,laserablation,and electrochemical deposition. The growth of ?lms using these techniques often occurs under highly n- equilibrium conditions (sometimes referred to as far-from-equilibrium), which leads to a rough surface morphology and a complex temporal evolution. As atoms are deposited on a surface, atoms do not arrive at the surface at the same time uniformly across the surface. This random ?uctuation, or noise, which is inherent to the deposition process, may create surface growth front roughness. The noise competes with surface smoothing processes, such as surface di?usion, to form a rough morphology if the experiment is performed at a su?ciently low temperature and / or at a high growth rate. In addition, growth front roughness can also be enhanced by growth processes such as geometrical shadowilí