Complex structural dynamics of bismuth under laser-driven compression

• Published in: Applied physics letters Vol. 103; no. 16
• Main Authors: Hu, Jianbo, Ichiyanagi, Kouhei, Doki, Tomoaki, Goto, Arihiro, Eda, Takayuki, Norimatsu, Katsura, Harada, Shinichi, Horiuchi, Dai, Kabasawa, Yuki, Hayashi, Shingo, Uozumi, Shin-ichi, Kawai, Nobuaki, Nozawa, Shunsuke, Sato, Tokushi, Adachi, Shin-ichi, Nakamura, Kazutaka G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 14.10.2013
• Subjects: Bismuth; Compressing; Dynamics; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Phases; Transformations
• ISSN: 0003-6951; 1077-3118
• DOI: 10.1063/1.4825276

With the aid of nanosecond time-resolved X-ray diffraction techniques, we have explored the complex structural dynamics of bismuth under laser-driven compression. The results demonstrate that shocked bismuth undergoes a series of structural transformations involving four solid structures: the Bi-I, Bi-II, Bi-III, and Bi-V phases. The transformation from the Bi-I phase to the Bi-V phase occurs within 4 ns under shock compression at ∼11 GPa, showing no transient phases with the available experimental conditions. Successive phase transitions (Bi-V → Bi-III → Bi-II → Bi-I) during the shock release within 30 ns have also been resolved, which were inaccessible using other dynamic techniques.