A new hydrodynamic mechanism is proposed for the ion beam-induced surface patterning
on solid surfaces. Unlike the standard mechanisms based on the ion beam impact-
generated erosion and mass redistribution at the free surface (proposed by Bradley-Harper
and its extended theories), the new mechanism proposes that the incompressible solid flow
in amorphous layer leads to the formation of ripple patterns at the amorphous-crystalline
(a/c) interface and hence at the free surface. Ion beam-stimulated solid flow inside the …