Ultrafast electron-electron scattering in metallic phase of 2H-NbSe$_2$ probed by high harmonic generation

Abstract

Electron-electron scattering on the order of a few to tens of femtoseconds plays a crucial role in the ultrafast electron dynamics of conventional metals. When mid-infrared light is used for driving and the period of light field is comparable to the scattering time in metals, unique light-driven states and nonlinear optical responses associated with the scattering process are expected to occur. Here, we use high-harmonics spectroscopy to investigate the effect of electron-electron scattering on the electron dynamics in thin film 2H-NbSe$_2$ driven by a mid-infrared field. We observed odd-order high harmonics up to 9th order as well as a broadband emission from hot electrons in the energy range from 1.5 to 4.0 eV. The electron-electron scattering time in NbSe$_2$ was estimated from the broadband emission to be almost the same as the period of the mid-infrared light field. A comparison between experimental results and a numerical calculation reveals that a kind of resonance between scattering and driving enhances the non-perturbative behavior of high harmonics in metals, causing a highly non-equilibrium electronic state corresponding to several thousand Kelvin.