Self-organized replication of 3D coherent island size and shape in multilayer heteroepitaxial films

Journal ArticleA model is proposed to elucidate the evolution of the morphology of strained 3D islands in multilayer heteroepitaxial films. The model explains the experimental observation that islands grown in successive layers not only replicate, forming individual island columns, but self-organize to reach a common size and shape, independent of their initial density