Prof Laura Herz FRS

Abstract:

We have investigated the effect of interchain interactions on the ultrafast depolarization of the photoluminescence from solid films of a conjugated polymer. Accurate control was exercised over the interchain separation by threading of the conjugated chains with insulating macrocycles or complexation with an inert host polymer. Our measurements indicate that excitation into the higher electronic states of a chain aggregate is followed by a fast (<100 fs) relaxation into lower excited states with an associated rotation of the transition dipole moment. These findings emphasize the need for consideration of initial excitonic delocalization across more than one polymeric chain.

Abstract:

We have investigated the conductivity of equilibrium and photoexcited electrons in nanoporous indium phosphide (InP) of various porosities and of two orientations: (100) and (111). We observed an enhanced transmission through the nanoporous samples compared with bulk InP, resulting from a suppression of the conductivity by the pores. The frequency-dependent conductivity was extracted numerically from the transmission data. We examined the dynamical conductivity of photoexcited carriers using optical-pump THz-probe spectroscopy. After the rapid photoexcitation of electrons, the timeresolved conductivity was observed to decay slowly, with carrier recombination lifetimes exceeding 1 ns for all (100)- and (111)-oriented samples.

Abstract:

The trapped charge density at the polymer-insulator boundary of polymer transistors was monitored by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. Additionally, the thermal removal of trapped holes and the light-induced transmission change were studied. © 2006 Optical Society of America.

Abstract:

Terahertz photonics is a rapidly growing field. The ultra-fast dynamics of charge carriers in semiconductors is closely linked to the performance of THz photonic devices. We study a range of ion-implanted and nano-scale semiconductors for application in novel terahertz devices.

Abstract:

We have investigated the conductivity of equilibrium and photoexcited electrons in nanoporous Indium phosphide (InP) of various porosities and of two orientations: (100) and (111). We observed an enhanced transmission through the nanoporous samples compared with bulk InP, resulting from a suppression of the conductivity by the pores. The frequency-dependent conductivity was extracted numerically from the transmission data. We examined the dynamical conductivity of photoexcited carriers using optical-pump THz-probe spectroscopy. After the rapid photoexcitation of electrons, the time-resolved conductivity was observed to decay slowly, with carrier recombination lifetimes exceeding 1ns for all (100)- and (111)-oriented samples.