We computed by a Monte Carlo method derived from the Solid on Solid model,
the evolution of a polycrystalline thin film deposited on a substrate during
thermal treatment. Two types of substrates have been studied: a single
crystalline substrate with no defects and a single crystalline substrate with
defects. We obtain islands which are either flat (i.e. with a height which does
not overcome a given value) or grow in height like narrow towers. A good
agreement was found regarding the morphology of numerical nanoislands at
equilibrium, deduced from our model, and experimental nanoislands resulting
from the fragmentation of YSZ thin films after thermal treatment.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figure