Synthetic view of two-dimensional aggregation.

Extensive Monte Carlo simulations using short-range and medium-range interactions reveal the existence of quasisteady out-of-equilibrium phases in two-dimensional (2D) atom or cluster aggregation at different coverages namely fractal-type, dendrites, compact islands with faceted or rough boundaries, as well as gas or fluid phases. Different aggregation processes are identified. For medium-range effective pair potentials such as the one used for copper atoms, 2D liquid droplets are found.