Cold Shock Waves in Semiconductors and Insulators

J. Appl. Phys. 65, 2998 (1989)https://ireap.umd.edu/10.1063/1.3427171989Journal ArticlePlasma, Accelerator, and Nuclear Physics

It is proposed that ultrahigh density shock waves could be generated in solids by inducing changes in the lattice constant upon laser irradiation. Moreover, for appropriately chosen semiconductors and insulators the initial shock is cold in that the laser energy is converted directly into the compression, with no thermal energy generated initially. Density amplification factors in the hundreds corresponding to transient pressures of gigabars, could be obtained by picosecond, 1‐mJ laser pulses. With smaller laser peak powers, the lattice constant variation may be exploited to generate picosecond optoacoustic pulses.