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Quantitative Analysis of Vacuum Induction Melting by Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
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Quantum Hooke's law to classify pulse laser induced ultrafast melting
Hao Hu1, Hepeng Ding2, Feng Liu2
11] Frontier Institute of Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an710054, China [2] Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT84112, USA.
Scientific Reports
|February 4, 2015
Summary
Femto-second laser pulses induce ultrafast crystal-to-liquid phase transitions. Quantum electronic stress (QES) explains why some materials undergo faster nonthermal transitions, while others use slower thermal melting.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Ultrafast crystal-to-liquid phase transitions are driven by femtosecond laser pulses.
- Two mechanisms exist: nonthermal (electron-hole plasma) and thermal (electron-phonon interaction).
- Predicting which mechanism dominates for a given material is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To classify materials based on their ultrafast phase transition mechanisms.
- To elucidate the role of quantum electronic stress (QES) in these transitions.
- To enable a priori predictions of transition types.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing the concept of quantum electronic stress (QES) derived from quantum Hooke's law.
- Analyzing material properties, specifically the slope of the melting temperature with respect to pressure (dTm/dP).
- Investigating laser fluence thresholds for different transition types.
Main Results:
- Nonthermal transitions occur in materials with anomalous phase diagrams (dTm/dP < 0) above a high laser fluence threshold.
- Thermal transitions are a more general process applicable to all materials.
- Quantum electronic stress (QES) acts as a negative internal pressure, driving nonthermal transitions.
Conclusions:
- A clear classification of ultrafast phase transition mechanisms is established based on material properties and QES.
- QES is identified as the key driver for the faster nonthermal phase transitions.
- This framework allows for quantitative predictions of material behavior under ultrafast laser excitation.
