Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
We have used the embedded-atom method (EAM) to perform molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations of iron films grown on Cu (111). The iron atoms were randomly deposited, one at a time, above the surface just within the force range of the nearest surface atom. The growth mode is discussed by following the iron film coverage for an incident-atom energy ranged from 0.5eV to 15eV. A transition from island to layer by layer growth is observed as a function of incident energy. The effect of deposition rate is also studied.