Diagnostics of the electron scattering in metals in terms of a terahertz response to femtosecond laser pulse

Abstract

A new method for the experimental determination of the characteristics of the electron scattering in a metal on the basis of optical-to-terahertz conversion has been proposed. It has been shown that the measurement of the characteristics of a low-frequency signal generated at the reflection of a femtosecond laser pulse from the surface of the metal makes it possible to determine the temperature dependence of the electron collision frequency and to reconstruct the dynamics of heating and heat transfer. The existing experimental data on the optical-to-terahertz conversion on the surface of the metal have been analyzed in terms of diagnostics.