Dynamics of superheating, melting, and annealing processes at Cu(111) and Cu(110) surfaces, induced by laser-pulse irradiation, are investigated using molecular dynamics simulations, incorporating energy transfer from the electronic to the ionic degrees of freedom. Superheating occurs at Cu(111) for conditions that lead to melting of the Cu(110) surface. Highly damaged Cu(111) surfaces structurally anneal under the influence of a superheating pulse.

• Received 8 March 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.71.1023