Ion beam-generated surface ripples: new insight in the underlying mechanism

A new hydrodynamic mechanism is proposed for the ion beam-induced surface patterning on solid surfaces. Unlike the standard mechanisms based on the ion beam impact-generated erosion and mass redistribution at the free surface (proposed by Bradley-Harper and its extended theories), the new mechanism proposes that the incompressible solid flow in amorphous layer leads to the formation of ripple patterns at the amorphous-crystalline (a/c) interface and hence at the free surface. Ion beam-stimulated solid flow inside the amorphous layer probably controls the wavelength, whereas the amount of material transported and re-deposited at a/c interface control the amplitude of ripples.