Intrinsic Maximum Light Absorption in Laser-Field-Driven Growth of Highly Ordered Silicon Nanowire Arrays

We provide direct experimental evidence for a state-selection principle in a far-from-equilibrium system. Using the laser-driven growth of silicon nanowires as a uniquely clean and quantifiable platform, we show that a long-range ordered array emerges as the system spontaneously selects the periodicity that maximizes its collective light absorption. This establishes a direct, measurable link between a maximum dissipation/absorption principle and emergent structural order. Our results thus offer a concrete test for models of non-equilibrium self-organization.