Time-resolved structural dynamics of thin metal films heated with femtosecond optical pulses

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1115237108
• Publication Date: 2011-11-08T06:51:56Z
• Authors: Jie Chen; Wei-Kan Chen; Jau Tang; Peter M. Rentzepis
• Keywords: Picosecond; Lattice (music)

We utilize 100 fs optical pulses to induce ultrafast disorder of 35- 150-nm thick single Au(111) crystals and observe the subsequent structural evolution using 0.6-ps, 8.04-keV X-ray pulses. Monitoring picosecond time-dependent modulation diffraction intensity, width, shift, we have measured directly electron/phonon coupling, phonon/lattice interaction, a histogram lattice evolution, such as breath due pressure wave propagating at sonic velocity, melting, recrystallization, including mosaic formation. Results theoretical simulations agree support experimental data lattice/liquid phase transition process. These time-resolved provide detailed description all significant processes induced by laser impinging on thin metallic crystals.