Laser short-pulse heating: A theoretical analysis of electron excess energy dissipation in the early heating period

Laser short-pulse heating of a gold surface is considered. In order to examine the influence of electron - phonon collision on electron and lattice temperature rise, two cases are accommodated in the analysis. In case 1, excess energy dissipation through electron-phonon collision is omitted during the initiation of the laser pulse and the electron-phonon collision time, and in case 2, electron excess energy dissipation from the initiation of the laser pulse is accommodated in the analysis. It is found that electron temperature rise is higher while lattice site temperature is lower for case 1 than that corresponding to case 2. However, the electron temperature difference due to case 1 and case 2 is small, particularly during late heating periods.