The melting fraction in laser-induced shock waves in aluminum was estimated as a function of the shock pressure. The results show that partial melting can begin during the relaxation of a shock pressure of 680 kbar. It is also suggested that for very short laser pulses (femtoseconds) a supercooling phenomenon may occur without melting during the rarefaction wave.

• Received 21 April 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.48.2094