X-ray diffuse scattering measurements of nucleation dynamics at femtosecond resolution.
Femtosecond time-resolved small and wide angle x-ray diffuse scattering techniques are applied to investigate the ultrafast nucleation processes that occur during the ablation process in semiconducting materials. Following intense optical excitation, a transient liquid state of high compressibility characterized by large-amplitude density fluctuations is observed and the buildup of these fluctuations is measured in real time. Small-angle scattering measurements reveal snapshots of the spontaneous nucleation of nanoscale voids within a metastable liquid and support theoretical predictions of the ablation process.
PULSE Center, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
A M
AM
Lindenberg
S
S
Engemann
K J
KJ
Gaffney
K
K
Sokolowski-Tinten
J
J
Larsson
P B
PB
Hillyard
D A
DA
Reis
D M
DM
Fritz
J
J
Arthur
R A
RA
Akre
M J
MJ
George
A
A
Deb
P H
PH
Bucksbaum
J
J
Hajdu
D A
DA
Meyer
M
M
Nicoul
C
C
Blome
Th
T
Tschentscher
A L
AL
Cavalieri
R W
RW
Falcone
S H
SH
Lee
R
R
Pahl
J
J
Rudati
P H
PH
Fuoss
A J
AJ
Nelson
P
P
Krejcik
D P
DP
Siddons
P
P
Lorazo
J B
JB
Hastings