Abstract

We have investigated the kinetics of hot carriers in extreme nonequilibrium conditions following femtosecond pulse excitation in germanium thin films. The laser system is a CPM dye laser amplified to 1 mJ by a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG. Reflectivity and transmission of a probe pulse generated in a white light continuum cell were recorded up to 100 ps after excitation. The probe and pump wavelengths, and the pump intensity have been varied. We thus obtain detailed information on the cooling of hot carriers as a function of time, injected carrier density, and temperature.

© 1986 Optical Society of America