Nanowire formation on sputter eroded surfaces

TL;DR

This paper investigates the formation of rotated ripple structures (RRS) on sputter eroded surfaces, identifying conditions for their formation and demonstrating their regularity and amplitude enhancement compared to linear ripple structures.

Contribution

It establishes the necessary condition for RRS formation related to collision cascade widths and demonstrates their improved regularity and amplitude through structure factor analysis.

Findings

RRS form when the collision cascade width is larger longitudinally.

RRS are more regular than linear ripple structures.

RRS amplitude is significantly enhanced.

Abstract

Rotated ripple structures (RRS) on sputter eroded surfaces are potential candidates for nanoscale wire fabrication. We show that the necessary condition for RRS formation is that the width of the collision cascade in the longitudinal direction has to be larger than that in the transverse direction, which can be achieved by using high energy ion beams. By calculating the structure factor for the RRS we find that they are more regular and their amplitude is more enhanced compared to the much studied ripple structure forming in the linear regime of sputter erosion.