Time-Resolved X-ray Diffraction Studies of Laser-Induced Dynamics in Solids
X-ray diffraction is an invaluable tool in the field of structural dynamics. In the work described in this thesis, time-resolved X-ray diffraction experiments were carried out to investigate ultrafast lattice dynamics. Ultrashort laser pulses were used to induce non-thermal melting and large-amplitude strain waves, and X-rays were used to probe these phenomena. Non-thermal melting was studied in i