Response of fs-Laser-Irradiated Diamond by Ultrafast Electron Diffraction

Abstract

Structural details of the proposed solid-liquid phase transition of carbon have remained elusive, despite years of study. While it is theorized that novel carbon materials form from a liquid precursor, experimental studies have lacked the temporal and spatial resolution necessary to fully characterize the purported liquid state. Here we utilize megaelectronvolt-ultrafast electron diffraction (MeV-UED) to study laser irradiated submicron diamond thin films in a pump-probe scheme with picosecond time resolution to visualize potential structural changes of excited diamond. We probe the structure of diamond using a combination of fluences (13, 40 J/cm2) and time delays (10, 25, 100 ps), but obse..