After explosive ablation from sapphire crystals by linearly polarised laser
pulses, regular structures are observed on the bottom of the ablation pit.
These structures do not comply with conventional ripple patterns. Instead,
they more nearly resemble wickerwork, aligned perpendicular to the laser b
eam polarisation. A similar morphology is obtained by are discharge erosion
at AgCdO electrodes, suggesting that an explosive laser ablation may be ch
aracterised by high electric field effects and self organisation in the abl
ation craters.