Nanoscale subsurface dynamics of solids using grazing-incidence x-ray scatteringONLINE ONLY

Observing ultrafast structural changes in nanoscale systems is essential for understanding the dynamics of intense light-matter interactions, which play a pivotal role in material processing, ultrafast phase transitions and diagnosis of matter under extreme conditions. Currently, a lack of appropriate surface and subsurface methodology to track density dynamics with sufficient spatial and temporal resolution restricts quantitative understanding, and eventual control, of the laser-solid interaction and the subsequent energy transport into the bulk. We recently proposed a novel method for in situ visualization of nanometer depth-resolved density dynamics by grazing-incidence x-ray scattering using an XFEL. Our first proof-of-principle experiment at SACLA facility revealed how the surface ablation and density perturbation develop over time after laser irradiation [1]. This new methodology opens up new possibilities for accurate characterization of surface and subsurface dynamics in various applications including laser ablation, creation of warm-dense-matter, dynamic compression, and relativistic laser-plasmas.  

[1] arXiv preprint 2012.15076