Ultrashort shock waves in nickel induced by femtosecond laser pulses

The structure and evolution of ultrashort shock waves generated by femtosecond laser pulses in single-crystal nickel films are investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. Ultrafast laser heating is isochoric, leading to pressurization of a 100-nm-thick layer below the irradiated surface. For low-intensity laser pulses, the highly pressurized subsurface layer breaks into a single elastic shock wave having a combined loading and unloading time [approximate]10-20 ps. Owing to the time-dependent nature of elastic-plastic transformations, an elastic response is maintained for shock amplitudes exceeding the Hugoniot elastic limit determined from simulations of steady shock waves. However, for high-intensity laser pulses (absorbed laser fluence >0.6 J/cm super(2)), both elastic and plastic shock waves are formed independently from the initial high-pressure state. Acoustic pulses emitted by the plastic front support the motion of the elastic precursor resulting in a fluence-independent elastic amplitude; whereas the unsupported plastic front undergoes significant attenuation during propagation and may fully decay within the metal film.