Cambridge University Press Physics of Crystal Growth: 0004 (Collection Alea-Saclay: Monographs and Texts in Statistical Physics)

This 1998 study introduces the physical principles of how and why crystals grow. The first three chapters recall the fundamental properties of crystal surfaces at equilibrium. The next six chapters describe simple models and basic concepts of crystal growth including diffusion, thermal smoothing of a surface, and applications to semiconductors. Following chapters examine more complex topics such as kinetic roughness, growth instabilities, and elastic effects. A brief closing chapter looks back at the crucial contributions of crystal growth in electronics during the twentieth century. The book focuses on growth using molecular beam epitaxy. Throughout, the emphasis is on the role played by statistical physics. Informative appendices, interesting exercises and an extensive bibliography reinforce the text. Review 'This book is an absolute 'must' to anyone interested in surface processes, growth, and the connection between the two. It is written at the graduate-student level, and would certainly be appropriate for an advanced course in statistical materials physics or as part of an advanced surface physics or condensed-matter physics course. The breadth of the book is truly and absolutely remarkable, and one can only be impressed at the amount of material the authors have been able to integrate - in a logical and very readable manner - in such a compact volume which, in addition, contains a large number of clearly-drawn figures and illustrations that help to capture the essence of the concepts they illustrate. The book incorporates … progress in the area of surface physics and growth, and as such provides a very valuable portrait of the current state of affairs in the field. It is my conviction that the book is here to stay: the statistical physics of growth, as presented in this remarkable book, is robust enough to withstand the assault of time. I recommend the Physics of Crystal Growth by Pimpinelli and Villain, very strongly.' Journal of the Canadian Physical Society'This unique book brings together many fundamental MBE studies in one place and develops them as a coherent story. It is thoroughly up to date and will be invaluable to all practitioners of MBE.' Nigel Mason, Chemistry in Britain Book Description This 1998 study introduces the physical principles of how and why crystals grow; for graduate students and researchers. About the Author Alberto Pimpinelli is Executive Director of the Smalley-Curl Institute and Faculty Fellow in the Materials Science and Nanoengineering Department at Rice University, Houston, full Professor in the Physics Department at the Université Blaise Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand, France, and Visiting Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park. From 2008 to 2012, he was one of the Attaches for Science and Technology of the French Embassy in the US. Trained as a theoretical physicist, Pimpinelli obtained his PhD from the University of Parma, Italy, with a thesis dealing with statistical physics models of magnetism in insulating systems. His interests shifted towards crystal surfaces and crystal growth when, after receiving fellowships from the Accademia dei Lincei and the European Union, he left Italy for the Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires and the Laue Langevin Institute in Grenoble (1991–7). In 1997, he was appointed Professor at the Université Blaise Pascal in Clermont-Ferrand, where he taught statistical and solid state physics, as well as introductory courses in nanosciences. In 2004, he was invited to the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at the University of Maryland, where he was appointed Visiting Professor the following year. He has acted as a reviewer for many institutions and scientific agencies, such as the MNEST, the ANR, the NSF, the EU, the EC, and the Romanian Government. He has authored or co-authored more than 150 scientific papers and book chapters, and has been invited to talk at many international conference