Three Fluctuating Unstable Steps in Equilibrium

on a Diamond-Cubic {111} Surface

k_BT=0.2J, L=30, µ=0.0J
Frames separated by 200 MCS.
Identical conditions to the stable steps.

Fast animation (~1.2 MB) Slow animation (~1.2 MB)

A reversed-view of three steps (incorporated through boundary conditions) oriented with average edge-normals along [-1 -1 2]. These unstable steps tend to microfacet along lower energy step orientations. With this orientation, steps appear fluid-like and separate readily due to entropic repulsion.

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