Effect of stress field on spiral step patterns on n‐octacosane crystals

Abstract

Modifications in spiral step patterns on n-octosane crystals resnlting from stress fields is considered. Stress field seems t o impede the propagation of growth fronts across i t and leads t o the formation of bunched step patterns. Effect of cylindrical stress fields with axes parallel and perpendicular t o the direction of step motion is considered in altering the shapes of the bunched steps. Shear modulus of n-octacosane crystals is estimated from the microtopographical features.