Abstract

One of the main fundamental point in the behavior of dielectrics under strong laser irradiation is the problem of the energy transfer mechanism between electrons, lattice and the laser field [1,2]. In this paper, we report on a subpicosecond photoemission experiment. Measurements of the kinetic energy of emitted electrons, generated via multiphoton transitions, from a laser-irradiated surface of α-quartz provide direct results on the electron energy distribution and can reveal for example the eventual absorption of photons by the quasi freeelectrons in the conduction band.

© 1994 Optical Society of America