Thin-film condensation processes

The status of knowledge of phase nucleation and growth processes on a solid surface in one- and multicomponent systems is surveyed. The formation kinetics and subsequent evolution of new phase islands are investigated. Models for film growth from the vapor and solution-melt are analyzed which include island distribution by size, the degree of coalescence, island orientation, morphological stability, etc. The Ostwald ripening of the ensembles of multicomponent islands of a new phase is considered for both the isothermal and non-isothermal cases and nonlinear effects involved in the growth of continuous structures are examined. The problem of controllable growth of new phase layers is discussed.