Interaction of high power CO2 laser radiation with a nonequilibrium carrier system in Ge at low temperatures

Abstract
CO2‐laser produced damping of electron‐hole drop (EHD) luminescence in Ge at laser intensities of 104 to 5 × 106 W/cm2 is reported. The observed effect is explained to be due to heating of the EHD by 10.6 μm radiation and driving of e‐h plasma by phonon wind generated during absorption and relaxation of hot nonequilibrium carriers.