ABSTRACTSynchrotron x-ray pulses have been used to make nanosecond resolution time-resolved x-ray diffraction measurements on silicon during pulsed laser annealing. Thermal expansion analysis of near-surface strains during annealing has provided depth dependent temperature profiles indicating >1100°C temperatures and diffraction from boron implanted silicon has shown evidence for near-surface melting. These results are in qualitative agreement with the thermal melting model of laser annealing.