Femtosecond laser quenching of the ε phase of iron

The quenching of the ε phase of iron, which has not been observed under a conventional shock compression, was attained using a femtosecond laser. The crystalline structure in a recovered iron sample was determined using an electron backscatter diffraction pattern system. The femtosecond laser driven shock may have the potential to quench high-pressure phases of other materials.