Abstract We present a critical view of the analysis of experimental one-dimensional island size distribution as a function of time. We study the processes of island growth using large-scale kinetic Monte Carlo simulations with diffusion barriers calculated within the framework of the density functional theory. We have shown that one-dimensional island size distribution depends significantly on the time of the experiment. Our model predicts that during annealing or cooling, the transition from one state of thermodynamical equilibrium to another occurs through a non-equilibrium state. This transition consists of Ostwald ripening and decay of one-dimensional islands. The results of our work demonstrate that considering experimental one-dimensional island size distribution as an equilibrium is a big misconception.

中文翻译：

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一维岛大小分布：从非平衡态到平衡态

摘要 我们提出了对实验一维岛大小分布作为时间函数的分析的批判性观点。我们使用大规模动力学蒙特卡罗模拟研究岛屿生长的过程，其中扩散障碍在密度泛函理论的框架内计算。我们已经表明，一维岛大小分布在很大程度上取决于实验时间。我们的模型预测，在退火或冷却期间，从一种热力学平衡状态到另一种热力学平衡状态的转变是通过非平衡状态发生的。这种转变包括一维岛的奥斯特瓦尔德成熟和衰变。我们的工作结果表明，将实验性的一维岛大小分布视为平衡是一个很大的误解。