Multi-temperature modeling of femtosecond laser pulse on metallic nanoparticles accounting for the temperature dependences of the parameters

Abstract

This review considers the fundamental dynamical processes of metal nanoparticles during and after the impact of a femtosecond laser pulse on a nanoparticle, including the absorption of photons. Understanding the sequence of events after photon absorption and their timescales is important for many applications of nanoparticles. Various processes are discussed, starting with optical absorption by electrons, proceeding through the relaxation of the electrons due to electron–electron scattering and electron–phonon coupling, and ending with the dissipation of the nanoparticle energy into the environment. The goal is to consider the timescales, values, and temperature dependences of the electron heat capacity and the electron–phonon coupling parameter that describe these processes and how these dependences affect the electron energy relaxation. Two- and four-temperature models for describing electron–phonon relaxation are discussed. Significant emphasis is paid to the proposed analytical approach to modeling processes during the action of a femtosecond laser pulse on a metal nanoparticle. These consider the temperature dependences of the electron heat capacity and the electron–phonon coupling factor of the metal. The entire process is divided into four stages: (1) the heating of the electron system by a pulse, (2) electron thermalization, (3) electron–phonon energy exchange and the equalization of the temperature of the electrons with the lattice, and (4) cooling of the nanoparticle. There is an appropriate analytical description of each stage. The four-temperature model can estimate the parameters of the laser and nanoparticles needed for applications of femtosecond laser pulses and nanoparticles.