Effect of stress field on spiral step patterns on n-octacosane crystals

Modifications in spiral step patterns on n-octosane crystals resulting from stress fields is considered. Stress field seems to impede the propagation of growth fronts across it and leads to the formation of bunched step patterns. Effect of cylindrical stress fields with axes parallel and perpendicular to the direction of step motion is considered in altering the shapes of the bunched steps. Shear modulus of n-octacosane crystals is estimated from the microtopographical features.