Time-resolved x-ray scattering from laser-molten indium antimonide.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Physical Chemistry

Background:

• Studying the dynamics of materials during phase transitions, such as melting, is crucial for understanding their fundamental properties.
• Transient liquid states are short-lived and challenging to probe using conventional experimental techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel method for investigating transient liquid states using picosecond time-resolved X-ray scattering.
• To characterize the structural evolution and resolidification dynamics of indium antimonide (InSb) after ultrafast laser-induced melting.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a high-repetition-rate setup for picosecond time-resolved X-ray scattering measurements.
• Employing femtosecond laser excitation to induce ultrafast melting in crystalline InSb.
• Analyzing the resulting X-ray diffraction patterns as a function of time delay to probe structural changes.

Main Results:

• Observed ultrafast melting of crystalline InSb, leading to a loss of long-range order and the formation of a liquid state.
• Measured broad X-ray diffraction rings characteristic of liquid InSb, with local correlations persisting.
• Demonstrated that the liquid structure factor agrees with equilibrated liquid InSb after 2 nanoseconds.
• Quantified the resolidification rate of liquid InSb to be approximately 1 m/s based on the decay of liquid scattering intensity.

Conclusions:

• The developed picosecond time-resolved X-ray scattering technique is effective for studying transient liquid states.
• The study provides insights into the ultrafast melting and resolidification dynamics of InSb, contributing to the understanding of phase transitions in semiconductors.