Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Ferguson KR
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4846449 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Science advances 20160129 1
In condensed matter systems, strong optical excitations can induce phonon-driven processes that alter their mechanical properties. We report on a new phenomenon where a massive electronic excitation induces a collective change in the bond character that leads to transient lattice contraction. Single large van der Waals clusters were isochorically heated to a nanoplasma state with an intense 10-fs x-ray (pump) pulse. The structural evolution of the nanoplasma was probed with a second intense x-ra ...[more]