Time-resolved absorption studies of the ZnSe/ZnSTe superlattice

The time-resolved differential absorption of the ZnSe/ZnSTe superlattice is studied using femtosecond pump-probe measurements. Transient spectral hole burning due to the initial nonthermal carrier distribution is observed at zero time delay and the carriers are thermalized within 0.5 ps. The high-energy tail of the differential absorption spectra was used to deduce the effective temperature of the thermalized carriers. Rapid hot-carrier cooling from a temperature of 763 to 450 K within the first 4 ps is observed, with carrier cooling slowing down hence. This initial fast hot-carrier cooling is consistent with the strong carrier–phonon interaction in large gap II–VI semiconductors.