Pattern evolution on previously rippled Au(001) by crossing-ion-beam sputtering

Abstract

We study the pattern evolution of pre-rippled Au(001) during sputtering by an ion beam that is incident perpendicular to the initial ripple in azimuth at a grazing angle. Prepatterned ripples decay exponentially with time and new ripples develop only after extended flat areas form along the crossing-ion beams. Hence, the superposition of the initial and new ripple patterns does not occur. The kinetic behaviors of new ripples growing on pre-rippled Au(001) by the crossing-ion beams are distinct from those on initially flat Au(001). When comparing the pre-rippled surface to the initially flat surface, the morphological evolution is substantially influenced by enhanced nonlinear effects such as redeposition.