Systems and methods for enhancing mobility of atomic or molecular species on a substrate at reduced bulk temperature using acoustic waves, and structures formed using same

A method for enhancing mobility of an atomic or molecular species on a substrate, the method comprising:

• exposing a first region of a surface of a substrate to an atomic or molecular species that forms a molecular bond with the substrate in the first region;
• directing a laser pulse to a second region of the surface of the substrate so as to generate a broadband surface acoustic wave in the second region, the broadband surface acoustic wave having spatial and temporal characteristics selected to alter the molecular bond, the broadband surface acoustic wave having a bandwidth of at least about 100 MHz at full width at half maximum (FWHM);
• and
• transmitting the broadband surface acoustic wave from the second region to the first region, the broadband surface acoustic wave altering the molecular bond between the substrate and the atomic or molecular species and enhancing lateral translation of the atomic or molecular species along the surface of the substrate wherein responsive to the alteration of the molecular bond, the atomic or molecular species translates laterally across the substrate in a direction defined by the spatial and temporal characteristics of the broadband surface acoustic wave.