Effect of a nonthermal electron distribution on the electron-phonon energy relaxation process in noble metals
- 1 March 1992
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review B
- Vol. 45 (9), 5079-5082
- https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.45.5079
Abstract
We show experimentally that the electron distribution of a laser-heated metal is a InonthermalR distribution on the time scale of the electron-phonon (e-ph) energy relaxation time . We measured in Ag and Au films as a function of lattice temperature (10–300 K) and laser-energy density (0.3–1.3 J ), combining femtosecond optical transient-reflection techniques with the surface-plasmon polariton resonance. Calculations support the experimental result that the nonthermal distribution leads to a IslowerR e-ph energy relaxation process below room temperature, compared to the thermalized limit.
Keywords
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