Development of third harmonic generation as a short pulse probe of shock heated material

We are studying laser-produced shock waves in silicon (100) at pressures up to 1.5 Mbar. To examine the material dynamics, including shock induced melt, we are performing pump-probe experiments utilizing 500 ps and 40 fs laser pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser. Two-dimensional time-resolved interferometry reveals information about the shock breakout, while third harmonic light generated at the rear surface is used to infer the crystalline state of the material as a function of time.