We report experimental results on spontaneous periodic surface structures or ripples which occur on the surface of crystalline or ion-implanted semiconductors, using high-power picosecond laser pulses. We suggest that these surface ripples develop as the result of an exponentially growing interaction between the incident laser wave front and a scattered surface optical wave.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Fauchet et al. (1982) studied this question.