Dynamics of laser-shocked condensed matter probed by nanosecond Raman spectroscopy

Nanosecond time-resolved Raman spectroscopy has been performed on laser-shocked benzene and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) with a pump and probe technique. Shock wave is generated by laser ablation. The induced pressure is determined by measuring particle velocity with a velocity interferometer system. Blue shift (10 cm−1) of ring stretching of benzene was observed at laser-shock pressure of 1.3 GPa. New Raman peak (1900 cm−1) was transiently observed under shock compression of PTFE and assigned to C2F4 monomer formed by transient bond scission at 2.3 GPa.