Abstract

When a metal is subjected to pulsed laser heating (pulse width ≤ hot electron energy loss lifetime), a transient inequality between the temperatures of the electrons and the lattice will occur.¹ Nonequilibrium electron heating in metals has been observed by picosecond^2,3/femtosecond^4-6 thermomodulation transmissivity⁴/ reflectivity,^5,6 and thermally enhanced multiphoton. photoemission.⁷ The femtosecond optical modulation studies have resolved the hot electron relaxation. Unresolved, however, is the role of lattice defects on hot electron energy loss and diffusion.

© 1990 Optical Society of America