Animated sequence of snapshots from a molecular dynamics simulation of laser melting
This animation shows a region near the back surface of the irradiated film where a conventional heterogeneous melting takes place. Two melting fronts propagate from the back surface of the film (right) and from the homogenously melted part of the film (left).
Atoms are colored according to the local order parameter - red atoms have local crystalline surroundings, blue atoms belong to the liquid phase.