Stimulated Surface-Plasma-Wave Scattering and Growth of a Periodic Structure in Laser-Photodeposited Metal Films

Abstract

Ripple morphologies of submicrometer spatial period are observed on metal films grown by UV laser photolysis of adsorbed organometallic molecules. This structure develops from surface roughness by coupling of the incident UV field to a surface-plasma wave. The intensity variation due to interference between the incident laser field and the surface-plasma wave modulates the film growth rate which in turn enhances the scattering of the incident field into the surface-plasma wave; an exponentially growing instability results.