The effect of nanoindentation on crystal growth rate fluctuations investigated by in-situ atomic force microscopy

In this article the results of direct observations of elementary processes of crystal growth using AFM are presented. A method of statistical processing of AFM data was developed, which made it possible to compile an array of average tangential and average normal growth rates and their fluctuations. Nanoindentation was applied to a growing spiral hillock; intensified fluctuations and simultaneous growth and dissolution were recorded within a local area. The behavior of average rates, characterized as self-oscillations, suggests self-organization of the system. Comparison of the data obtained in the experiment with those obtained from the other experiments where no nanoindentation was applied indicates that the phenomena of intensified fluctuations and simultaneous growth and dissolution are caused by the nanoindentor action.