Ultrafast laser-induced phase transitions in tellurium

We present experimental investigations of ultrafast phase transitions in tellurium following excitation by an intense femtosecond laser pulse. Femtosecond time-resolved polarization-sensitive microscopy is used to monitor the temporal evolution of optical anisotropy (birefringence) of the irradiated material. The decay of optical anisotropy associated with the loss of order in crystalline tellurium is fluence-dependent and occurs within 0.5-3 ps. (C) 2002 MAIK Nauka / Interperiodica.