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Condensed-Matter Physics (1986) / Chapter Skim
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D Laser Spectroscopy of Condensed Matter
Pages 258-264

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From page 258...
... For example, laser light scattering has become a conventional technique for studying excitations in condensed matter; nonlinear optical spectroscopy allows the study of forbidden transitions in a medium and the study of homogeneous broadening of spectral lines as narrow as PI kHz; transient optical spectroscopy can probe dynamic properties of a medium on a time scale as short as a subpicosecond (i.e., <10-'' second) ; optical mixing is useful for monitoring and studying molecular adsorbates on surfaces; and laser heating is promising as a new method for annealing crystalline films or for growing various types of amor 258
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From page 259...
... In this section we survey the accomplishments of the past decade. Nonlinear Optical Spectroscopy This type of spectroscopy flourishes only because tunable lasers have become easily available.
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From page 260...
... Transient Optical Spectroscopy Transient coherent phenomena arising from the resonant interaction of radiation with matter are among the most fascinating topics in condensed-matter physics. They were studied extensively in magnetic resonance before the laser era.
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From page 261...
... By energy analyzing the photoemitted electrons as a function of time delay, fundamental information about the energy relaxation processes affecting the electron distribution was obtained. Furthermore, by using circularly polarized laser light and studying the spin polarization of the photoemitted electrons, phase-destroying processes may be studied.
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From page 262...
... Electron transport in materials with particular types of electronic defects has been characterized with picosecond time-resolved photocurrent spectroscopy. The extension of optical electronics to the subpicosecond regime calls for ways of overcoming dispersive and capacitive effects in electronics components.
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From page 263...
... By using a femtosecond laser pulse to create photoemitted electrons with a small energy spread and by accelerating these electrons across a large potential, a pulse of electrons is made available for timeresolved electron-diffraction studies. For the first time, such structural changes as melting and structural phase transitions may be studied on the femtosecond scale.
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From page 264...
... It is likely that new and better nonlinear optical crystals suitable for efficient frequency conversion over a broad range and for use in nonlinear optical devices for data processing will emerge in the near future. Optical fibers have grown, in the past decade, into an important branch of the optical industry.
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Key Terms

  • nonlinear optical
  • optical spectroscopy
  • laser technology
  • condensed matter
  • laser pulse

  • picosecond laser
  • photoemitted electrons
  • light pulse
  • relaxation processes
  • transient optical

  • electron pulse
  • picosecond pulse
  • frequency conversion
  • time scale
  • laser pulses

  • femtosecond laser
  • homogeneous broadening
  • laser beam
  • excitor polaritons
  • data processing

  • laser light
  • energy relaxation
  • laser linewidth
  • optical crystals
  • dynamic properties

  • optical electronics
  • studying excitations
  • relaxation time
  • ultrashort laser
  • selectively excited


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