Madi, Charbel S.Anzenberg, EitanLudwig, Karl F.Aziz, Michael2014-09-302011Madi, Charbel S., Eitan Anzenberg, Karl F. Ludwig, and Michael J. Aziz. 2011. “Mass Redistribution Causes the Structural Richness of Ion-Irradiated Surfaces.” Physical Review Letters 106 (6) (February).0031-9007http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:12967685We show that the “sputter patterning” topographical instability is determined by the effects of ion impact-induced prompt atomic redistribution and that erosion—the consensus predominant cause—is essentially irrelevant. We use grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering to measure in situ the damping of noise or its amplification into patterns via the linear dispersion relation. A model based on the effects of impact-induced redistribution of those atoms that are not sputtered away explains both the observed ultrasmoothening at low angles from normal incidence and the instability at higher angles.en-USJournal Article2014-09-25Charbel S. Madi, Eitan Anzenberg, Karl F. Ludwig, Michael J. Aziz2014-09-3010.1103/PhysRevLett.106.066101