Electron-ion equilibration in ultrafast heated graphite.

Journal article

We have employed fast electrons produced by intense laser illumination to isochorically heat thermal electrons in solid density carbon to temperatures of ∼10,000  K. Using time-resolved x-ray diffraction, the temperature evolution of the lattice ions is obtained through the Debye-Waller effect, and this directly relates to the electron-ion equilibration rate. This is shown to be considerably lower than predicted from ideal plasma models. We attribute this to strong ion coupling screening the electron-ion interaction.

Authors: White, T; Hartley, N; Borm, B; Crowley, B; Harris, J

• Publication status: Published
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Volume: 112
• Issue: 14
• Pages: 145005
• Publication date: 2014-04-01
• DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.112.145005
• EISSN: 1079-7114
• ISSN: 0031-9007
• Language: English