Effect of thickness on the self-positioning of nanostructures

Atomic-scale modeling of self-positioning GaAs-InAs nanostructures is performed. Curvature radius values obtained by the atomic-scale finite element method are compared with those obtained by a continuum mechanics solution under plane strain conditions. Atomic-scale modeling and continuum mechanics solution predict the same curvature radius for structures with large thickness. However, atomic-scale modeling shows significant decrease of the curvature radius for structures with thickness less than 40 nm. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.