Ultrafast electron dynamics in platinum and gold thin films driven by optical and terahertz fields
Abstract
Here, we investigate the ultrafast electron dynamics triggered by terahertz and optical pulses in thin platinum and gold films by probing their transient optical reflectivity. The response of the platinum film to an intense terahertz pulse is similar to the optically induced one and can be described by a two-temperature model with a 20% larger electron–phonon coupling for the terahertz-driven dynamics compared to the optically induced one, ascribed to an additional nonthermal electron–phonon coupling contribution. Surprisingly, gold films exhibit a much smaller terahertz pulse-induced reflectivity change and with a sign opposite to the optical case. Additionally we explain this remarkable observation with field emission of electrons due to Fowler–Nordheim tunneling, enabled in samples with thicknesses below the structural percolation threshold, where nanostructuring promotes near-field enhancement. Our results provide a fundamental insight into the ultrafast processes relevant to modern electro- and magneto-optical applications.
- Authors:
-
[3];
[4];
[6]
- Stockholm Univ. (Sweden)
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice (Italy)
- SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States). Linear Coherent Light Source
- Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao (Spain). IKERBASQUE
- Emory Univ., Atlanta, GA (United States)
- Stockholm Univ. (Sweden); Ca' Foscari University of Venice (Italy)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC); National Science Foundation (NSF); European Research Council (ERC)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1887292
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-76SF00515; ECCS-1804198; ECCS-2005786; 715452
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Applied Physics Letters
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 120; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 0003-6951
- Publisher:
- American Institute of Physics (AIP)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS; thin films; Fowler-Nordheim tunneling; thermal instruments; electro-optics; ultrafast processes; transition metals; phonons; terahertz radiation
Citation Formats
Unikandanunni, V., Rigoni, F., Hoffmann, M. C., Vavassori, P., Urazhdin, S., and Bonetti, S. Ultrafast electron dynamics in platinum and gold thin films driven by optical and terahertz fields. United States: N. p., 2022.
Web. doi:10.1063/5.0068086.
Unikandanunni, V., Rigoni, F., Hoffmann, M. C., Vavassori, P., Urazhdin, S., & Bonetti, S. Ultrafast electron dynamics in platinum and gold thin films driven by optical and terahertz fields. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0068086
Unikandanunni, V., Rigoni, F., Hoffmann, M. C., Vavassori, P., Urazhdin, S., and Bonetti, S. Mon .
"Ultrafast electron dynamics in platinum and gold thin films driven by optical and terahertz fields". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0068086. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1887292.
@article{osti_1887292,
title = {Ultrafast electron dynamics in platinum and gold thin films driven by optical and terahertz fields},
author = {Unikandanunni, V. and Rigoni, F. and Hoffmann, M. C. and Vavassori, P. and Urazhdin, S. and Bonetti, S.},
abstractNote = {Here, we investigate the ultrafast electron dynamics triggered by terahertz and optical pulses in thin platinum and gold films by probing their transient optical reflectivity. The response of the platinum film to an intense terahertz pulse is similar to the optically induced one and can be described by a two-temperature model with a 20% larger electron–phonon coupling for the terahertz-driven dynamics compared to the optically induced one, ascribed to an additional nonthermal electron–phonon coupling contribution. Surprisingly, gold films exhibit a much smaller terahertz pulse-induced reflectivity change and with a sign opposite to the optical case. Additionally we explain this remarkable observation with field emission of electrons due to Fowler–Nordheim tunneling, enabled in samples with thicknesses below the structural percolation threshold, where nanostructuring promotes near-field enhancement. Our results provide a fundamental insight into the ultrafast processes relevant to modern electro- and magneto-optical applications.},
doi = {10.1063/5.0068086},
journal = {Applied Physics Letters},
number = 2,
volume = 120,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 10 00:00:00 EST 2022},
month = {Mon Jan 10 00:00:00 EST 2022}
}
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