Theory 24/Crystal Growth
Defects Follow a Roughness Ratio
The claim
The density of growth defects is set by the ratio of growth rate to interface roughness, so faster growth is cleaner on a rough interface and dirtier on a smooth one.
01The mechanism
Defects are trapped when the growth front advances faster than it can smooth; the ratio of rate to roughness sets whether trapping occurs.
02Predictions
- P1Defect density should track the ratio.
- P2Growth rate alone should mispredict.
03Refutation
Defects tracking growth rate would remove the roughness term.