Dynamics of laser pulse-induced melts in Ni–P visualized by high-speed transmission electron microscopy

Patterns produced in laser-molten amorphous Ni–P films are of interest for applications in cover layers of magnetic disks, but their formation is not yet understood. This work reports first images of the actual motion in solidifying laser-produced Ni–P melts by high-speed electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis of the evolving structures. The findings suggest, that existing thermorchemocapillary models of flow in impure liquid metals may be applied to dilute Ni–P alloys. q1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.