Abstract
The linear dispersion relation for surface perturbations, as derived by Levine et al., Phys. Rev. B, 75 (2007) 205312, is extended to include a smooth surface energy anisotropy function with a variable anisotropy strength (from weak to strong, such that sharp corners and slightly curved facets occur on the corresponding Wulff shape). Through detailed parametric studies it is shown that a combination of a wetting interaction and strong anisotropy, and even a wetting interaction alone results in complicated linear stability characteristics of strained and unstrained solid films.