Nanosecond time-resolved Raman spectroscopy of laser-heated silicon

Abstract

We observe distinct shifts and broadenings of the optical-phonon Raman line, which are consistent with the lattice temperature rise predicted by a simple thermal heating model. The detailed temperature evolution obtained from measurements of the Stokes-to-anti-Stokes ratio demonstrates that the melting temperature is indeed reached precisely at the same time that the optical reflectivity jumps from the value of the solid to that of the liquid.