Cascaded second-harmonic generation, summation of the wave vectors of the bulk defect-deformation waves, and generation of multimode micro- and nanostructures by laser irradiation of solids

We consider for the first time three-wave interactions of bulk quasi-static defect-deformation (DD) waves (generation of the second DD harmonic and summation of the wave vectors), similar to three-wave interactions in nonlinear optics and acoustics, leading to cascaded broadening of the spectrum of spatial DD harmonics. Based on the theory developed, we interpret the recently observed effect of laser-induced generation of the bulk periodic structure of silver nanoparticles with a discrete spatial spectrum, extending from micro- to nanometres.