Abstract Understanding how photoexcited electron dynamics depend on electron-electron (e-e) and electron-phonon (e-p) interaction strengths is important for many fields, e.g. ultrafast magnetism, photocatalysis, plasmonics, and others. Here, we report simple expressions that capture the interplay of e-e and e-p interactions on electron distribution relaxation times. We observe a dependence of the dynamics on e-e and e-p interaction strengths that is universal to most metals and is also counterintuitive. While only e-p interactions reduce the total energy stored by excited electrons, the time for energy to leave the electronic subsystem also depends on e-e interaction strengths because e-e interactions increase the number of electrons emitting phonons. The effect of e-e interactions on energy-relaxation is largest in metals with strong e-p interactions. Finally, the time high energy electron states remain occupied depends only on the strength of e-e interactions, even if e-p scattering rates are much greater than e-e scattering rates.
Electron–phonon coupling and electron mobility in degenerately doped oxides from first-principles
- Award ID(s):
- 1800130
- Publication Date:
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10165356
- Journal Name:
- Optical Engineering
- Volume:
- 59
- Issue:
- 06
- Page Range or eLocation-ID:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 0091-3286
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation