Ultrafast transitions from solid to liquid and plasma states of graphite induced by X-ray free-electron laser pulses

S. P. Hau-Riege, A. Graf, T. Döppner, R. A. London, J. Krzywinski, C. Fortmann, S. H. Glenzer, M. Frank, K. Sokolowski-Tinten, M. Messerschmidt, C. Bostedt, S. Schorb, J. A. Bradley, A. Lutman, D. Rolles, A. Rudenko, B. Rudek

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

63 Scopus citations

Abstract

We used photon pulses from an x-ray free-electron laser to study ultrafast x-ray-induced transitions of graphite from solid to liquid and plasma states. This was accomplished by isochoric heating of graphite samples and simultaneous probing via Bragg and diffuse scattering at high time resolution. We observe that disintegration of the crystal lattice and ion heating of up to 5 eV occur within tens of femtoseconds. The threshold fluence for Bragg-peak degradation is smaller and the ion-heating rate is faster than current x-ray-matter interaction models predict.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number217402
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume108
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - May 23 2012
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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