Density functional tight binding approach utilized to study X-ray-induced transitions in solid materials

Intense X-ray pulses from free-electron lasers can trigger ultrafast electronic, structural and magnetic transitions in solid materials, within a material volume which can be precisely shaped through adjustment of X-ray beam parameters. This opens unique prospects for material processing with X rays. However, any fundamental and applicational studies are in need of computational tools, able to predict material response to X-ray radiation. Here we present a dedicated computational approach developed to study X-ray induced transitions in a broad range of solid materials, including those of high chemical complexity. The latter becomes possible due to the implementation of the versatile density functional tight binding code DFTB+ to follow band structure evolution in irradiated materials. The outstanding performance of the implementation is demonstrated with a comparative study of XUV induced graphitization in diamond.

Automated summary

This article presents a dedicated computational approach developed to study X-ray induced transitions in a broad range of solid materials. The approach utilizes the versatile density functional tight binding code DFTB+ to track the band structure evolution in irradiated materials, and demonstrates outstanding performance through a comparative study of XUV induced graphitization in diamond.