Two topics of optical excitation dynamics, newly unveiled by the time-and momentum-resolved photo-electron emission from the conduction band of GaAs: A theoretical review

Abstract

We review the recent two topics of optical excitation and relaxation dynamics, newly unveiled by the time- and momentum-resolved photo-electron emission from the conduction band of GaAs. One is the real-time collective relaxation dynamics, resulting in the Fermi degeneracy formation in the G valley. We show that it takes almost infinite time to realize the exact Fermi degeneracy, due to a restricted selection rule for the intravalley transition of the photo-excited electrons. The other is the spontaneous and instantaneous intervalley transition from the G valley to the L one. By considering the electron-phonon coupling before the photo-excitation, such spontaneous intervalley transition is realized within the framework of the Franck-Condon principle of the photo-excitation.