Space periodic thermionic emission and ablation of metallic targets by crossed surface plasma waves

摘要

Two surface plasma waves (SPWs) propagating at an angle to each other over a metal-free space interface, cause space periodic heating of electrons. As the electron temperature T-e rises, thermal conduction transverse to the interface and collisional heat transfer to the lattice become dominant heat-loss mechanisms. On the timescale of a few collision time, the lattice gets heated, giving rise to space periodic ablation that leads to the formation of grating structures. In case the SPW power is below the threshold for ablation, space periodic electron temperature results in space periodic thermionic emission.