Discrete-event analytic technique for surface growth problems

We introduce an approach for calculating nonuniversal properties of rough surfaces. The technique uses concepts of distinct surface-configuration classes, defined by the surface growth rule. The key idea is a mapping between discrete events that take place on the interface and its elementary local-site configurations. We construct theoretical probability distributions of deposition events at saturation for surfaces generated by selected growth rules. These distributions are then used to compute measurable physical quantities. Despite the neglect of temporal correlations, our approximate analytical results are in very good agreement with numerical simulations. This discrete-event analytic technique can be particularly useful when applied to quantification problems, which are known not to be suited to continuum methods.