Monte Carlo simulation of cluster growth on an inhomogeneous substrate

The growth of clusters on an inhomogeneous substrate is simulated by using Monte Carlo method. The inhomogeneous substrate is composed of two different kinds of regularly distributed materials A and B with different physical properties. Deposited particles have initial energy E-0. It consumes energies E-A and E-B when a particle diffuses one step on phases A and B, respectively, and it consumes energy E-AB when the particle passes through the phase boundary from A to B. In the simulation, E-0 is much bigger than E-A and E-B, and the energy needed for the particle to pass through the phase boundary from B to A is set as E-BA = 0. Results show that the clusters aggregated on the inhomogeneous substrate are of fractal structure. When E-AB is much bigger than E-A and E-B, the number, radius of gyration and fractal dimension of the cluster all vary periodically with ratio E-0/E-BA.