Abstract

Laser-induced formation of surface nanostructures is known for a long time. Responsible mechanisms, however, are not completely understood. Early explanations were based on surface electromagnetic waves [1]. Alternative models were focused on self-organization of non-equilibrium surfaces via nonlinear feedback and material transport [2]. Investigations on volume structures in fused silica and glass [3,4] revealed a plasmon controlled rearrangement of nanobubbles as an interplay of non-thermal and thermal processes. For metals at high fluence, bubbles merge along temporally elastic stripes of maximum carrier density [5].

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