Journal article
Theory of spectral hole burning for the study of ultrafast electron dynamics in metal nanoparticles
Publication Details
Authors: | Vartanyan, T.; Bosbach, J.; Stietz, F.; Träger, F. |
Publication year: | 2001 |
Journal: | Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics |
Pages range : | 391-399 |
Volume number: | 73 |
Start page: | 391 |
End page: | 399 |
ISSN: | 0946-2171 |
Abstract
In order to study the ultrafast relaxation dynamics of surface plasmon excitation in metal nanoparticles in the presence of inhomogeneous line broadening and investigate the influence of the reduced dimensions on the dephasing time T-2, in the size regime below about 10 nm, we have recently demonstrated a novel technique based on persistent spectral hole burning [1]. Here, we describe a theoretical model that has been developed for evaluation of the experimental data and precise determination of T-2 for particles of different size and shape. Comparison of the model to experimental data for Ag-nanoparticles on sapphire shows that the theoretical treatment does not only reproduce the shape of the generated holes but also the dependence of their widths on the applied laser fluence. As a result, we have a reliable and versatile tool at hand making possible systematic studies of the ultrafast electron dynamics in small metal particles, and the dependence of the femtosecond dephasing time on their size, shape and surrounding dielectric.
In order to study the ultrafast relaxation dynamics of surface plasmon excitation in metal nanoparticles in the presence of inhomogeneous line broadening and investigate the influence of the reduced dimensions on the dephasing time T-2, in the size regime below about 10 nm, we have recently demonstrated a novel technique based on persistent spectral hole burning [1]. Here, we describe a theoretical model that has been developed for evaluation of the experimental data and precise determination of T-2 for particles of different size and shape. Comparison of the model to experimental data for Ag-nanoparticles on sapphire shows that the theoretical treatment does not only reproduce the shape of the generated holes but also the dependence of their widths on the applied laser fluence. As a result, we have a reliable and versatile tool at hand making possible systematic studies of the ultrafast electron dynamics in small metal particles, and the dependence of the femtosecond dephasing time on their size, shape and surrounding dielectric.
