Non-linear ripple dynamics on amorphous surfaces patterned by ion-beam sputtering

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical model describing the nonlinear ripple dynamics on amorphous surfaces caused by ion-beam sputtering, capturing phenomena like wavelength coarsening and non-uniform propagation consistent with experimental observations.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized continuum model for nonlinear ripple dynamics on amorphous surfaces under ion-beam sputtering, aligning with experimental and discrete model results.

Findings

Wavelength coarsening observed in ripple patterns.

Non-uniform propagation velocity of ripples.

Agreement with experimental and discrete models.

Abstract

Erosion by ion-beam sputtering (IBS) of amorphous targets at off-normal incidence frequently produces a (nanometric) rippled surface pattern, strongly resembling macroscopic ripples on aeolian sand dunes. Suitable generalization of continuum descriptions of the latter allows us to describe theoretically for the first time the main nonlinear features of ripple dynamics by IBS, namely, wavelength coarsening and non-uniform propagation velocity, that agree with similar results in experiments and discrete models. These properties are seen to be the anisotropic counterparts of in-plane ordering and (interrupted) pattern coarsening in IBS experiments on rotating substrates and at normal incidence.