Extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), using a laser-imploded target as a source, can yield the properties of laser-shocked metals on a nanosecond time scale. EXAFS measurements of vanadium shocked to $\sim 0.4\mathrm{M}\mathrm{b}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{r}$ yield the compression and temperature in good agreement with hydrodynamic simulations and shock-speed measurements. In laser-shocked titanium at the same pressure, the EXAPS modulation damping is much higher than is warranted by the predicted temperature increase. This is shown to be due to the $\alpha \mathrm{\text{−}}\mathrm{T}\mathrm{i}$ to $\omega \mathrm{\text{−}}\mathrm{T}\mathrm{i}$ crystal phase transformation, known to occur below $\sim 0.1\mathrm{M}\mathrm{b}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{r}$ for slower shock waves.

• Received 23 October 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.095504