Strong bonds and far-from-equilibrium conditions minimize errors in lattice-gas growth

TL;DR

This study uses computer simulations to show that strong interactions and far-from-equilibrium conditions lead to higher quality lattice-gas growth, challenging the conventional belief that mild conditions are optimal.

Contribution

It demonstrates through simulation that strong bonds and far-from-equilibrium growth minimize structural errors in lattice-gas assembly.

Findings

Strong interactions improve structure quality.

Far-from-equilibrium conditions reduce errors.

Contradicts the assumption that mild conditions are best.

Abstract

We use computer simulation to study the layer-by-layer growth of particle structures in a lattice gas, taking the number of incorporated vacancies as a measure of the quality of the grown structure. By exploiting a dynamic scaling relation between structure quality in and out of equilibrium, we determine that the best quality of structure is obtained, for fixed observation time, with strong interactions and far-from-equilibrium growth conditions. This result contrasts with the usual assumption that weak interactions and mild nonequilibrium conditions are the best way to minimize errors during assembly.