title: Anomalous approach to thermodynamic equilibrium: Structure formation of molecules after vapor deposition.
abstract: We describe experiments and computer simulations of molecular deposition on a substrate in which the molecules (substituted adenine derivatives) self-assemble into ordered structures. The resulting structures depend strongly on the deposition rate (flux). In particular, there are two competing surface morphologies (α and β), which differ by their topology (interdigitated vs lamellar structure). Experimentally, the α phase dominates at both low and high flux, with the β phase being most important in the intermediate regime. A similar nonmonotonic behavior is observed on varying the substrate temperature. To understand these effects from a theoretical perspective, a lattice model is devised which reproduces qualitatively the topological features of both phases. Via extensive Monte Carlo studies we can, on the one hand, reproduce the experimental results and, on the other hand, obtain a microscopic understanding of the mechanisms behind this anomalous behavior. The results are discussed in terms of an interplay between kinetic trapping and temporal exploration of configuration space.
authors.affiliation: Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster, Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Corrensstrasse 30, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Pritam Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Jana
authors.affiliation: Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster, Physikalisches Institut, Wilhelm-Klemm-Strasse 10, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Jack
authors.affiliation: Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster, Physikalisches Institut, Wilhelm-Klemm-Strasse 10, 48149 Münster, Germany and Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, 215123 Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Lifeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster, Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Corrensstrasse 30, 48149 Münster, Germany and Center of Nonlinear Science CeNoS, Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heuer