Reproducibility and stability in surface morphological evolution

The steady-state surface morphology of solids under conditions of constant-volume thermodynamic equilibrium or the self-similar reproducible morphology during kinetically driven growth or erosion are reviewed. These considerations are used to develop the general requirements for steady-state reproducible morphological evolution when both kinetic and the thermodynamic processes operate. Several specific applications of the analysis, including ion-bombardment sputtering or atomic deposition both mediated by surface atomic diffusion, are explored.