The structural transformation dynamics upon irradiation of single-crystalline indium phosphide with 150 fs laser pulses at a wavelength of 800 nm and with various fluences exceeding the melting or the ablation threshold has been investigated. Optical time-resolved reflectivity measurements were employed using two experimental set-ups to cover timescales up to 400 ns after the pulsed excitation. A fs-resolution pump probe set-up covered the early stages of thermal and non-thermal melting and ablation. A real-time-resolved refilectivity set-up employing a streak camera and a photodiode was used for the investigation of the later stages of the resolidification process. In the ablation regime, the resolidification mechanisms have been analysed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.