Quantum dynamical study of the amplitude collapse and revival of coherent A 1g phonons in bismuth: a classical phenomenon?

Abstract

We parameterize the potential energy surface of bismuth after intense laser excitation using accurate full-potential linearized augmented plane wave calculations. Anharmonic contributions up to the fifth power in the A 1g phonon coordinate are given as a function of the absorbed laser energy. Using a previously described model including effects of electron–phonon coupling and carrier diffusion due to Johnson et al., we obtain the time-dependent potential energy surface for any given laser pulse shape and duration. On the basis of this parameterization we perform quantum dynamical simulations to study the experimentally observed amplitude collapse and revival of coherent A 1g phonons in bismuth considering work of Misochko et al. Our results strongly indicate that the observed beatings are not related to quantum effects and are most probably of classical origin.