Over the past decades, the use of ultrashort pulsed laser sources for material processing and associated laser-driven physical phenomena has received considerable attention due to the important technological applications, in particular in industry and medicine. Various types of surface structures generated by laser pulses and, more specifically, the so-called laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) on solids have been studied extensively. Several laser-driven processes take place to explain the self-organisation-based LIPSS formation. On the other hand, it is evident that the role of polarization and electrodynamics are crucial in the determination of the orientation of the induced periodic structures. In this talk, we will present a detailed discussion of the fundamental physical processes that take place on various timescales following irradiation of conducting materials with femtosecond pulses. The aim is firstly to provide an interpretation of the results observed in the lab through a detailed and consistent theoretical framework and secondly to provide a basis for materials research in various research activities at IESL-FORTH.