Modelling ultrafast transitions within laser-irradiated solids

We give an overview of physical mechanisms contributing to radiation induced changes within solids irradiated with femtosecond X-ray FEL pulses and present some models to describe the evolution of the irradiated samples. Applicability of these models is then discussed with respect to the structure of an irradiated material and to the pulse parameters. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.