Response of an Insulating Material to Photoexcitation

Abstract

We focus on the dynamics of polaron formation following photoexcitation of a deform able insulator. A bare exciton is seen to evolve toward a polaron-like state by shedding energy into the vibrations of the medium. The radiated energy propagates away from the excitation region in the form of sound waves, resulting in the emergence of a persistent deformation of the medium about the excitation region.