Pattern Evolution on Previously Rippled Au (001) by Crossing-ion-beam Sputtering

J.-H. Kim, M. Joe, S.-P. Kim, N.-B. Ha, K.-R. Lee, B. Kahng, J.-S. Kim
 

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. Pre-patterned 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 with the initially flat surface, the morphological evolution is substantially influenced by enhanced nonlinear effects such as redeposition.