Figure 1
From: Self-organized chains of nanodots induced by an off-normal incident beam
Schematic of a hexagonal pattern of dots lined up along the y axis. The formed line is perpendicular to the direction of the incident beam. Dot A would be partially shadowed by B and C if it shifts to the left, when mass accumulation at its front would bring it back to line up with B and C. Anisotropic smoothing causes the distance between dots anisotropic, i.e., a > b.