Ultrafast laser-induced premelting and structural transformation of gold nanorod

Femtosecond laser irradiation of a gold nanorod has been simulated by a method that couples two-temperature model into molecular dynamics. Numerical results show that the surface premelting occurs prior to the initiation of planar defect and propagates from the surface layer into the inside of nanorod. Pressure relaxation leads to high-frequency temperature oscillation and two-way transformation between fcc and disordered atoms produced by the dynamic stresses. Partial dislocation cores are initiated on the crystal surfaces due to high stresses, and then noticeable planar defects including stacking faults and twin boundaries on {111} close-packed planes are developed. Finally, only parallel twin boundaries are present in the nanorod, showing favorable agreement with the experimental observation.