Monte Carlo simulation of film growth in a phase separating binary alloy model

Using a kinetic Monte Carlo method, we simulate binary film (A(0.5) B-0.5/A) growth on an L x L square lattice with the focus on the domain growth behaviour. We compute the average domain area, A (t), as a measure of domain size. For a sufficiently large system, we find that A(t) grows with a power law in time with A(t) similar to t(2/3) after the initial transient time. This implies that the dynamic exponent for domain growth with non-conserved order parameter is z = 3, a value which was theoretically predicted for the conserved order parameter case. Further analysis reveals that such a power-law behaviour emerges because the order parameter is approximately conserved after the early stage of growth. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.