title: Nucleationless three-dimensional island formation in low-misfit heteroepitaxy
abstract: The formation of faceted three-dimensional islands during growth of low-misfit Si1-xGex alloys on Si(100) has been investigated by low-energy electron microscopy. The formation of the islands in these alloy systems does not involve three-dimensional nucleation, but rather proceeds via a precursor array of shallow, stepped mounds on the surface that result from the inherent morphological instability of the strained alloy film.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sutter
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lagally