Deformation instability and generation of ordered surface structures by laser radiation

A model is proposed to account for a deformation instability which appears under the action of powerful laser radiation in a system of point defects on the surface of a solid with a high density of sinks. It is shown that the development of this instability under conditions linear in respect of the amplitude creates complex three-dimensional surface structures of coupled strain and defect-density fields (rings, radial arrays, one- and two-dimensional lattices). Dispersion relationships are derived for the growth increment of these structures and their characteristic sizes (grating period, number of rays in a structure) are found.