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Probing Unfolded Acoustic Phonons with X Rays

M. Trigo, Y. M. Sheu, D. A. Arms, J. Chen, S. Ghimire, R. S. Goldman, E. Landahl, R. Merlin, E. Peterson, M. Reason, and D. A. Reis
Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 025505 – Published 11 July 2008
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Abstract

Ultrafast laser excitation of an InGaAs/InAlAs superlattice (SL) creates coherent folded acoustic phonons that subsequently leak into the bulk (InP) substrate. Upon transmission, the phonons become “unfolded” into bulk modes and acquire a wave vector much larger than that of the light. We show that time-resolved x-ray diffraction is sensitive to this large-wave vector excitation in the substrate. Comparison with dynamical diffraction simulations of propagating strain supports our interpretation.

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  • Received 6 May 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.025505

©2008 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

M. Trigo1,*, Y. M. Sheu1, D. A. Arms2, J. Chen1, S. Ghimire1, R. S. Goldman3, E. Landahl2,†, R. Merlin1, E. Peterson1, M. Reason3, and D. A. Reis1

  • 1Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
  • 2Advanced Photon Source, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA
  • 3Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA

  • *mtrigo@umich.edu
  • Present address: Department of Physics, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, USA.

See Also

Hearing the Highest Pitches

David Lindley
Phys. Rev. Focus 22, 2 (2008)

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Vol. 101, Iss. 2 — 11 July 2008

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