Superheating systematics of crystalline solids

Systematics of superheating (theta=T/T-m-1) of crystalline solids as a function of heating rate (Q) are established as beta=A(Q)(theta+1)theta(2), where the normalized energy barrier for homogeneous nucleation is beta=16pigamma(sl)(3)/(3kT(m)DeltaH(m)(2)), T is temperature, T-m melting temperature, A a Q-dependent parameter, gamma(sl) interfacial energy, DeltaH(m) heat of fusion, and k Boltzmann's constant. For all elements and compounds investigated, beta varies between 0.2 and 8.2. At 1 and 10(12) K/s, A=60 and 31, theta=0.05-0.35 and 0.06-0.45, respectively. Significant superheating is achievable via ultrafast heating. We demonstrate that the degree of superheating achieved in shock-wave loading and intense laser irradiation as well as in molecular dynamics simulations (Qsimilar to10(12) K/s) agrees with the theta-beta-Q systematics. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.