Blast wave and contraction in Au(111) thin film induced by femtosecond laser pulses. A time resolved x-ray diffraction study.

We utilize 100 fs optical pulses as a means of heating 150 nm thick single Au (111) crystals, below the melting point and monitor the subsequent structural evolution with subpicosecond time resolution using 0.6 ps, 8.04 KeV x-ray pulses. By monitoring the energy and time dependent modulation of the width and shift of the x-ray diffraction rocking curve, we have obtained information on electron-phonon coupling, photon-lattice interaction, and time resolved kinetics of the crystal disorder. The data show that during the first couple picoseconds after optical excitation, the formation of a blast force and lattice contraction, followed by a pressure wave formed 10-20 ps later. Both the blast and pressure wave propagate through the crystal with sonic velocities. These time resolved x-ray diffraction data provide a detail description of the processes induced by ultrafast laser pulses impinging on very thin metallic crystals. 2011 American Institute of Physics.

Blast wave and contraction in Au(111) thin film induced by femtosecond laser pulses. A time resolved x-ray diffraction study. Academic Article