title: Self-organized nanopatterns in thin layers of superheated liquid metals.
abstract: In this paper experimental observations of self-organized patterns in resolidified thin films of liquid superheated metals are reported. The superheated melt layers represent an example of a system driven far from equilibrium, which undergoes explosive boiling and solidifies afterward. The melts appear in the course of single-shot femtosecond laser heating of metal samples. Self-organized cells, solitonlike structures, periodic stripes, and transient patterns are observed. Pattern properties and mechanisms leading to the pattern formation as well as possible applications for nanotechnology are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften, ISAS E.V., Dortmund, Germany. gurevich@uni-muenster.de
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Gurevich