Experimental determination of step energies from island shape fluctuations: A comparison to the equilibrium shape method for Cu(100), Cul(111), and Ag(111)

Absolute values for step energies can be determined from the temperature dependence of island equilibrium shapes and the size dependence of island shape fluctuations. Experimental data on island fluctuations are evaluated and the resulting step energies are compared to those obtained earlier from the temperature dependence of the equilibrium shape. For islands on Cu(100), Cu(111), and Ag(111), the step energies obtained by the two entirely different and independent methods agree within the experimental error. The advantages and disadvantages of the two methods are discussed.