Influence of recombination centers on the relaxation process of a 2D photoexcited hot electron plasma

Abstract The effect of recombination centers on the relaxation process of photoexcited 2D electron systems in polar semiconductors is studied theoretically. Our analysis takes into account the most important mechanisms of relaxation. We find that under certain conditions recombination to centers can drastically modify the e-ph interaction via reduction of screening. Consequently, the time behaviour of the energy exchange rate between the electronic system and the lattice can also be altered. Our results indicate that recombination to centers affects, in different ways, the time evolution of the carrier temperature and the rate of energy exchange rate. Qualitative agreement with some experimental data lends support to the model and allows us to make some predictions.