Femtosecond dynamics of then=2 image-potential state on Ag(100)

Abstract

We report the first time-resolved studies of higher-order image-potential states on Ag(100). Two-photon photoemission measurements are performed with femtosecond resolution using pump and continuum probe techniques. We measure the lifetime of the n=2 image state on Ag(100) to be ∼180 fs, substantially longer than that of the n=1 state. These results have implications for theoretical models used for predicting the lifetimes of these states.