We present simulations of the relaxation towards equilibrium of one-dimensional steps and sinusoidal grooves imprinted on a surface below its roughening transition. We use a generalization of the hypercube stacking model of Forrest and Tang that allows for temperature-dependent next-nearest-neighbor interactions. For the step geometry the results at $T=0\mathrm{}$ agree well with the $t^{1/4}$ prediction of continuum theory for the spreading of the step. In the case of periodic profiles we modify the mobility for the tips of the profile and find the approximate solution of the resulting free boundary problem to be in reasonable agreement with the $T=0\mathrm{}$ simulations.

• Received 11 February 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.56.12499