Formation of step bunches induced by flow in solution

We study the formation of step bunches induced by flow in solution during growth. In our previous study [M. Inaba and M. Sato: J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 80 (2011) 074606], we showed that the step-down flow in solution causes bunching. In this research, we study the dependence of step behavior on some parameters. With a slow flow, the separation and coalescence between steps and bunches occur frequently during step bunching. With increasing flow rate, the frequency decreases and tight bunches are formed. The decrease in the frequency also occurs with increasing strength of the repulsion between steps.