Formation mechanism of a periodic nanograting structure by a surface plasma wave

A two-dimensional particle in cell code has been used to demonstrate the formation mechanism of a periodic nanograting structure in the hydrogen plasma. By using a linearly polarized, ultrafast laser beam with a wavelength of 800 nm, an incidence angle of 0deg, and an intensity of 10¹⁶ W/cm²-µm², the periodic nanograting structure was clearly self-organized at the boundary between a preformed and dense plasma at t = 600 fs. The bidirectional surface plasma wave plays a significant role together with the oscillating two-stream instability in producing the periodic nanograting structure. (author)