Femtosecond Laser Driven Shock Quenching of the Nanocrystalline High-Pressure Phase of Iron

Abstract

Quenching of the nanocrystalline high-pressure e phase of iron, which has not been observed under a conventional shock compression, was attained using a femtosecond laser. A small quantity of the g phase of iron also existed. We found that the e phase was induced by the shock itself but not the g phase. The g phase was suggested to be induced as an intermediate structure between the a-e transition. The femtosecond laser driven shock may have the potential to quench high-pressure phases which has not been attained using conventional methods.