ABSTRACTPulsed (50 nsec) electron beams with deposited energies of 1.1 ­ 2.4 J/cm2 have been used to rapidly melt a surface layer of Fe. Calculations show that this range of energies produces melt depths from 0.4–1.2 μm and melt times of 100–500 nsec. Optical microscopy and SEM of pulse treated polycrystalline foils show slip traces, as well as a general smoothing of surface features which shows that melting has occurred. TEM shows that the resolidified material is bcc, and that the material within a grain is epitaxial with the substrate. TEM also shows slip traces of {110} planes, as well as a high density of dislocations, both extended and loop. At the highest energy, subgrain boundaries are observed. Some samples were implanted with 1×1016 Sn/cm2 at 150 keV. After pulse treatment, the Sn depth profile was observed to have broadened, consistent with liquid phase diffusion. The Sn had the unexpected effect of suppressing slip at the sample surface.