Delay and distortion of slow light pulses by excitons in ZnO

Abstract

Distortion of light pulses in ZnO caused by both bound and free excitons is demonstrated by time-of-flight spectroscopy. Numerous lines of bound excitons dissect the pulse spectrum and induce slowdown of light propagation around the dips. Exciton-polariton resonances determine the overall pulse delay, which approaches 1.6 ns at 3.374 eV for a 0.3 mm propagation length, as well as the pulse curvature in the time-energy plane and its attenuation. Analysis of cw and time-resolved data yields the excitonic parameters inherent for bulk ZnO. A discrepancy is found between these bulk parameters and those given by surface-probing techniques. © 2011 American Physical Society.