Coherent control of optical phonons in bismuth

Abstract

We have conducted degenerate pump-pump-probe experiments on semimetal bismuth with femtosecond time resolution, varying both pump-probe and interpump time delays. The observed phonon dynamics, including the amplitude, damping, frequency, and phase, can be modeled by the interference of two chirped damped oscillators. No lattice anharmonicity along the trigonal axis is observed. We also find evidence of phonon-mediated relaxation of the energy density at the sample surface.