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Ultra-fast disordering by fs-lasers: Lattice superheating prior to the entropy catastrophe

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Abstract

Point defects and lattice heating are two major sources for the catastrophic disordering of a crystal in equilibrium. I demonstrate that the thermal point defects formation time in a femtosecond laser (fs-laser)-excited solid is the longest of all relaxation times, while the ultra-fast contribution to the entropy changes from electrons is minor in comparison to the catastrophe value. Thus non-thermal disordering solely by electron excitation prior to the energy transfer to the lattice is proved to be thermodynamically impossible. The swiftly excited solid can be disordered only if a lattice is superheated over the critical temperature defined by the entropy catastrophe. The presented analysis of experiments on fs excitation of different solids is consistent with theory.

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  1. Laser Physics Centre, Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia

    Eugene G. Gamaly

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  1. Eugene G. Gamaly
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Correspondence to Eugene G. Gamaly.

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Gamaly, E.G. Ultra-fast disordering by fs-lasers: Lattice superheating prior to the entropy catastrophe. Appl. Phys. A 101, 205–208 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-010-5779-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-010-5779-9

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