Formation of periodic structures on the surfaces of solids under the action of laser radiation

An analysis is made of the formation of a periodic structure on the surface of a solid by the action of laser radiation involving thermal dissipation of surface electromagnetic waves and the associated thermal expansion of solids. It is shown that formation of surface periodic structures can be regarded as surface propagation of waves with periodic profiles and with amplitudes that increase with time only when the laser radiation power density exceeds a certain threshold value.