SUPERHEATING OF BI(0001)

Superheating of Bi(0001) by about 90 K above the bulk melting temperat ure is observed using time-resolved reflection high-energy electron di ffraction with approximately 200-ps time resolution. Larger temperatur e excursions above the bulk melting temperature result in melting acco mpanied by irreversible laser damage to the surface. The rhombohedral structure of Bi leads to very different behavior of material parameter s upon melting as compared with fcc metals. Therefore, our observation of the superheating of Bi(0001), together with the previously observe d superheating of Pb(111), suggests the generality of the superheating phenomenon.