Typeset with jpsj2.cls <ver.1.2> Full Paper Step Instabilities on a Vicinal Face induced by Flow of Solution

Considering growth of a vicinal face from solution, by carrying out Monte Carlo simulation, we study step bunching induced by flow of atoms in solution. For simplicity, we use two-diffusional solution field and one-dimensional vicinal face. When the flow of atoms in solution is in the step-down direction, the vicinal face is unstable and step bunching occurs. When the flow is fast, small bunches are formed in the inital stage. The size of bunches increases by coalescence of small bunches. In a later stage, coalescence and separation of bunches repeatedly occur, and the size of bunches is saturated. When the flow is slow, the bunches grow from the modulation of step density in the initial stage. The size of bunches increases with time as ∼ t1/3