The status of knowledge of phase nucleation and growth processes on a solid surface in one- and multicomponent systems is surveyed. The formation kinetics and subsequent evolution of new phase islands are investigated. Models for film growth from the vapor and solution-melt are analyzed which include island distribution by size, the degree of coalescence, island orientation, morphological stability, etc. The Ostwald ripening of the ensembles of multicomponent islands of a new phase is considered for both the isothermal and non-isothermal cases and nonlinear effects involved in the growth of continuous structures are examined. The problem of controllable growth of new phase layers is discussed.

PACS: 68.35.−p, 68.18.+p, 68.15.+e, 81.15.−z (all) DOI: 10.1070/PU1998v041n10ABEH000461 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/1998/10/b/ 000076871800002 Citation: Kukushkin S A, Osipov A V "Thin-film condensation processes" Phys. Usp. 41 983–1014 (1998) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Оригинал: Кукушкин С А, Осипов А В «Процессы конденсации тонких пленок» УФН 168 1083–1116 (1998); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0168.199810b.1083