Hot-electron thermalization in solid and liquid argon, krypton, and xenon

Abstract

A delay in the development of conductivity following subnanosecond pulse irradiation of liquid and solid argon, krypton, and xenon has been found and is attributed to the relaxation of the initially superthermal electron energy distribution. The time scales required for thermalization are in agreement with values expected on the basis of interactions with acoustical phonons and with estimates derived from the field-strength dependences of the electron mobility.