Femtosecond Laser-Matter Interactions: Solid-Plasma-Solid Transformations at the Extreme Energy Density

This book describes the ultra-short laser-matter interactions from the subtle atomic motion to the generation of extreme pressures inside the bulk of a transparent crystal. It is the successor to Femtosecond Laser-Matter Interactions: Theory, Experiment and Applications (2011). Explanation and experimental verification of the exceptional technique for the phase transformations under high pressure are in the core of the book. The novel phase formation occurs along the unique solid-plasmasolid transformation path: the memory of the initial state is lost after conversion to plasma. New phase forms from chaos during the cooling to the ambient. The pressure-affected material remains detained inside a pristine crystal at the laboratory tabletop. Unique super-dense aluminium and new phases of silicon were created by the confined micro-explosions. The text also describes the recent studies that used the quasi-non-diffracting Bessel beams. The applications comprise the new high-pressure material formation and micromachining. The book is an appealing source for readers interested in the cutting-edge research exploring extreme conditions and creating nanostructures at the laboratory tabletop.