RESEARCH INTERACTION TEAM (RIT):
Kinetics and fluctuations of complex crystal surfaces

SPRING 2008 & FALL 2007
Department of Mathematics
Department of Physics
Institute for Physical Science and Technology (IPST)
University of Maryland, College Park

LECTURES: Thursdays, 5p.m.-6p.m. (unless noted otherwise);
Room: MATH 1308

Organizers: Theodore L. Einstein (einstein@umd.edu), Dionisios Margetis (dio@math.umd.edu),
Ray Phaneuf (phaneuf@lps.umd.edu), Athanasios Tzavaras (tzavaras@math.umd.edu),
John Weeks (jdw@ipst.umd.edu).

Scope & Research Focus: The complex properties of crystal surfaces have been
the subject of theoretical and experimental scrutiny for many years, especially
because of their use in the design and fabrication of novel nanodevices.
Despite continued progress in our understanding of how surfaces evolve and fluctuate,
many issues still remain unresolved. This RIT will focus on physical and mathematical
models for crystal surfaces and their various theoretical implications. Models include
lattice gas, step-continuum and standard continuum (PDEs). Connections between
these models will be explored. Emphasis will be placed on both deterministic and
stochastic aspects.
TOPICS: Introduction to basic models: lattice, steps (BCF theory), PDEs.
Connections: Deterministic aspects: From lattice models to steps: step stiffness,
key energies, electronic and elastic effects. From steps to PDEs for surface height;
boundary conditions; kinetic theories for steps; space correlation functions.
Stochastic aspects: Langevin and Fokker-Planck equations for step fluctuations;
time correlation functions; relaxation times; connections to Random Matrix Theory.

CREDIT: Students can take 1-3 units of credit by attending this RIT, and
studying and presenting a paper on an acceptable topic agreed on with one of the organizers,
or discussing original research.
For details, contact one of the Organizers (above).

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS (so far): T. L. Einstein (Physics), D. Margetis (Math. & IPST),
Ray Phaneuf (Materials Sci. Eng.), J. D. Weeks (Chemistry & IPST), A. Tzavaras (Math.)

Schedule for Spring 2008:
(talks will be posted on a week-by-week basis)
  • February 28, 5:00pm-6:00pm
    Passage from steps to continuum equations in 1+1 dimensions -- Part I, by D. Margetis
  • March 6, 5:00-6:00pm
    Passage from steps to continuum equations -- Part II, by D. Margetis
  • March 13, 5:00-6:00pm
    Analytic solutions of surface relaxation PDE in 1+1 dimensions: Singularities and self-similarity, by D. Margetis
  • March 20: NO LECTURE (MD SPRING BREAK)
  • March 27, 5:00-6:00pm
    From steps to continuum in 2+1 dimensions -- Part I, by D. Margetis
  • April 3, 5:00-6:00pm
    Unstable Growth on Patterned GaAs(001) Surfaces: Experimental Results, Phenomenology and Physically Based-Models, by R. Phaneuf
  • April 10, 5:00-6:00pm
    From steps to continuum in 2+1 dimensions -- Part II, by D. Margetis
  • April 17: NO LECTURE
  • April 24, 5:00-6:00pm
    Talk Postponed -- NO LECTURE
  • May 1, 5:00-6:00pm
    Controlled Smoothing of Crystal Surfaces with an Externally Applied Field, by J. Quah
  • May 8, 5:00-6:00pm
    Surface dynamics from chemical potential gradients: step bunching and superstep motion in solution growth of crystals, by J.D. Weeks
  • May 15, 5:00-6:00pm
    Observations and Simulations of Step-Bunch Self-Organization on Patterned Vicinal Si(111), by R. Phaneuf

    Schedule for Fall 2007:
    (talks will be posted on a week-by-week basis)

  • September 6, 5:00pm-6:00pm: Introduction to crystal surfaces (An overview), by T. L. Einstein
  • September 13: NO MEETING
  • September 20, **SPECIAL TIME: 5:30pm-6:15pm**:
    Modeling the kinetics and dynamics of crystal surfaces (An overview), by D. Margetis
  • September 27, 5:00pm-6:00pm: Key energies in steps on surfaces, and some consequences, by T. L. Einstein
  • October 4, NO MEETING
  • October 11, 5:00pm-6:00pm: Key energies in steps on surfaces, and some consequences (continued), by T. L. Einstein
  • October 18, 5:00pm-6:00pm: Ising and solid-on-solid models of interfaces and steps, by J. D. Weeks
  • October 25, 5:00pm-6:00pm: Discrete model for motion of crystal steps in one dimension, by A. Finkbiner.
  • November 1, **SPECIAL TIME: 5:30-6:30pm:**
    Terrace-Width Distributions of Vicinal Surfaces as an Example of Universal Fluctuation Phenomena: Connections to the Generalized Wigner Surmise from Random Matrix Theory (Part 1), by T. L. Einstein.
  • November 8, 5:00pm-6:00pm:
    Morphology of nanostructured crystalline surfaces and dynamics of instabilities : Theory and modeling,
    by Ajmi Ben Haj Hammouda.
  • November 15, 5:00pm-6:00pm:
    Morphology of nanostructured crystalline surfaces and dynamics of instabilities : Theory and modeling, PART II
    by Ajmi Ben Haj Hammouda.
  • November 29, 5:00pm-5:50pm:
    Langevin and Fokker-Planck equations for steps
    by Ted L. Einstein.
  • December 6, 5:00pm-6:00pm:
    Langevin and Fokker-Planck equations for steps--Part 2
    by Ted L. Einstein.

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