Time-resolved measurements of stimulated surface polariton wave scattering and grating formation in pulsed-laser-annealed germanium

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Abstract
Nanosecond resolution optical probe measurements of the growth of surface ripples in pulsed-laser-annealed Ge are reported. The ripples are shown to arise from stimulated scattering of the incident laser light into surface polariton waves at the air/liquid/solid interfaces which form during the optical excitation. These surface waves grow exponentially from spontaneous scattering via feedback involving modulation of the velocity of the liquid/solid interface. The final ripple structure results from the density change on melting coupled with transverse diffusional processes during the regrowth.