The interdependence between the incidence angles associated with quasi-stable intersections during ion erosion

A general discussion, which is valid for any angular dependence of sputtering yieldS=S(), concerning the interdependence between the incidence angles _e and ₀, associated with quasi-stable intersections during ion erosion, is given. The object was firstly to establish the location of _e roots as a function of ₀ and secondly to identify the stationary points and general trend for the complex dependence _e= _e( ₀). The results obtained are applied to a quasi-stability analysis of some specific surface features during ion erosion. Various possible types of quasi-stable intersections (surface-surface, plane-surface, plane-plane) are reviewed from the point of view of their evolution caused by ion bombardment.