The Ultrafast Laser Pump-Probe Technique for Thermal Characterization of Materials With Micro/Nanostructures. Issue 3 (3rd July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhu, Jie; Wu, Xuewang; Lattery, Dustin M.; Zheng, Wei; Wang, Xiaojia
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale and microscale thermophysical engineering. Volume 21:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 177
• Page End: 198
• Publication Date: 2017-07-03
• Subjects: Ultrafast pump-probe method -- time-domain thermoreflectance -- time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect -- transient absorption -- thermal characterization; Heat -- Transmission -- Periodicals; Heat -- Transmission; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 621.402
• DOI: 10.1080/15567265.2017.1313343
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1556-7265

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Advances in nano-electronics, nano-optics, energy harvesting materials, and nanoparticle-based photothermal therapies are motivating studies of the thermal properties of micro/nanostructures. Thus, the demands for highly sensitive and accurate thermal measurement techniques are encouraged for both fundamental studies and industrial applications. The time-domain thermoreflectance (TDTR) method, based on an ultrafast pump-probe technique, enables high-fidelity thermal measurements at the micro/nanoscale and the observation of dynamic processes with sub-picosecond time resolution. TDTR is an optical technique, capable of measuring the thermal properties of micro/nanostructures, including thermal conductivity and interfacial thermal conductance of bulk substrates, thin films, and nanoparticles, among others. Here we review some recent developments in the state-of-the-art ultrafast pump-probe method applied to study the thermal and magnetic properties of materials at the micro- and nanometer scales. We also discuss in detail improvements to this technique by presenting several example extensions to its capabilities.