Title: SIMULATION OF SYNTHESIS OF CLUSTER-ASSEMBLED NANOSTRUCTURED MATERIALS
Author(s): M.S.Byshkin, A.S.Bakai, N.P.Lazarev, A.A.Turkin (National Science Center Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology, 1 Akademichna Str., 61108 Kharkiv, Ukraine)

A model is described to simulate the formation of nanostructured materials by cluster beam deposition. Clusters are modelled by spherical balls with a given size distribution function, which fall to the substrate and stick to the growing structure. The mobility of clusters along the film surface is modelled by introduction of a critical angle at which a falling ball meets a ball that belongs to the structure. When the falling ball touches one of the balls in the structure at an angle smaller than the critical one, it sticks to the film; otherwise the ball rolls along the surface till it meets other balls. It is shown that a variety of structures similar to those observed experimentally can be produced. The density of the model structures, percolation thresholds and the surface roughness are analyzed.

Key words: nanomaterials, percolation, fractals, roughness exponent
PACS: 61.43.-j, 61.46.+w, 68.35.Bs, 68.35.Ct