Femtosecond laser driven shock synthesis of the high-pressure phase of iron

The synthesis of the high-pressure e phase of iron was attained using a femtosecond laser. The crystalline structure in a recovered iron sample was determined using electron diffraction and synchrotron X-ray diffraction methods. The hightemperature g phase of iron also existed in the recovered sample. The temperature inside the shock front was calculated using thermodynamic equations. It was 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 synthesis high-pressure phases, which has not been attained using conventional methods