  With the aid of nanosecond time-resolved X-ray diffraction techniques, we
have explored the complex structural dynamics of bismuth under laser-driven
compression. The results demonstrate that shocked bismuth undergoes a series of
structural transformations involving four solid structures: the Bi-I, Bi-II,
Bi-III and Bi-V phases. The transformation from the Bi-I phase to the Bi-V
phase occurs within 4 ns under shock compression at ~11 GPa, showing no
transient phases with the available experimental conditions. Successive phase
transitions (Bi-V->Bi-III->Bi-II->Bi-I) during the shock release within 30 ns
have also been resolved, which were inaccessible using other dynamic
techniques.
