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Title: Electron Kinetics Induced by Ultrafast Photoexcitation of Warm Dense Matter in a 30-nm-Thick Foil

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters
ORCiD logo [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6]
  1. Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB (Canada); SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
  2. Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB (Canada)
  3. Univ. of Quebec, Varennes, QC (Canada)
  4. CEA, DAM, DIF, Arpajon (France)
  5. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  6. Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC (Canada)
+ Show Author Affiliations

We report on the study of electron kinetics induced by intense femtosecond (fs) laser excitation of electrons in the 5d band of Au. Changes in the electron system are observed from the temporal evolution of ac conductivity and conduction electron density. The results reveal an increase of electron thermalization time with excitation energy density, contrary to the Fermi-liquid behavior of the decrease of thermalization time associated with the heating of conduction electrons. This is attributed to the severe mitigation of photoexcitation by Auger decay. The study also uncovers the shortening of 5d hole lifetime with the increase of photoexcitation rates. Overall, these unique findings provide valuable insights for understanding electron kinetics under extreme nonequilibrium conditions.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1833214
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL--824047; 1036649
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 127; ISSN 0031-9007
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Interatomic Potential in the Nonequilibrium Warm Dense Matter Regime journal August 2018
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70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
electron relaxation
electron-photon coupling
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photoexcitation