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

We utilize 100 fs optical pulses to induce ultrafast disorder of 35- to 150-nm thick single Au(111) crystals and observe the subsequent structural evolution using 0.6-ps, 8.04-keV X-ray pulses. Monitoring the picosecond time-dependent modulation of the X-ray diffraction intensity, width, and shift,...

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Published inProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 108; no. 47; pp. 18887 - 18892
Main Authors Chen, Jie, Chen, Wei-Kan, Tang, Jau, Rentzepis, Peter M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States National Academy of Sciences 22.11.2011
National Acad Sciences
Subjects
Computer Simulation
Crystal lattices
Crystallization
Crystals
Diffraction
Electron diffraction
Electrons
evolution
Fluence
gold
Gold - chemistry
Hot Temperature
Lasers
Lattice vibrations
Melting
Models, Chemical
Mosaic
Nanostructures - chemistry
Phase Transition
Phase transitions
Phonons
Physical Sciences
Recrystallization
Simulation
Single crystals
Time Factors
Wave diffraction
X-radiation
X-ray diffraction
X-Ray Diffraction - methods
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Summary:We utilize 100 fs optical pulses to induce ultrafast disorder of 35- to 150-nm thick single Au(111) crystals and observe the subsequent structural evolution using 0.6-ps, 8.04-keV X-ray pulses. Monitoring the picosecond time-dependent modulation of the X-ray diffraction intensity, width, and shift, we have measured directly electron/phonon coupling, phonon/lattice interaction, and a histogram of the lattice disorder evolution, such as lattice breath due to a pressure wave propagating at sonic velocity, lattice melting, and recrystallization, including mosaic formation. Results of theoretical simulations agree and support the experimental data of the lattice/liquid phase transition process. These time-resolved X-ray diffraction data provide a detailed description of all the significant processes induced by ultrafast laser pulses impinging on thin metallic single crystals.
Bibliography:Author contributions: J.C. and P.M.R. designed research; J.C. and W.-K.C. performed experimental studies; J.T. performed theoretical simulation; J.C., W.-K.C., and P.M.R. analyzed data; and J.C., J.T., and P.M.R. wrote the paper.
Contributed by Peter M. Rentzepis, September 19, 2011 (sent for review July 28, 2011)
1J.C. and W.-K.C. contributed equally to this work.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.1115237108