Simulation of the self-organization of nanocontacts in thin gold films

An efficient method has been developed for simulation of the self-organization of metal nanocontacts obtained by transmission electron microscopy. In the framework of this approach, the basic steps of nanocontact formation at room temperature are determined and the main diffusion events determining the contact formation time and the shape of the contacts are revealed. The self-organization of nanocontacts having different orientations with respect to the original fcc lattice is considered. The results obtained are in good agreement with the experimental data on nanocontact formation.