Mapping of two-plus-one-dimensional KPZ growth onto driven lattice gas model of dimers

We show that a 2+1 dimensional discrete surface growth model exhibiting KPZ class scaling can be mapped onto a two dimensional conserved lattice gas model of directed dimers. In case of KPZ height anisotropy the dimers follow driven diffusive motion. We confirm by numerical simulations that the scaling exponents of the dimer model are in agreement with those of the 2+1 dimensional KPZ class. This opens up the possibility of analyzing growth models via reaction-diffusion models, which allow much more efficient computer simulations.