Broadband femtosecond spectroscopic ellipsometry

We present a setup for time-resolved spectroscopic ellipsometry in a pump-probe scheme using femtosecond laser pulses. As a probe, the system deploys supercontinuum white light pulses that are delayed with respect to single-wavelength pump pulses. A polarizer-sample-compensator-analyzer configuration allows ellipsometric measurements by scanning the compensator azimuthal angle. The transient ellipsometric parameters are obtained from a series of reflectance-difference spectra that are measured for various pump-probe delays and polarization (compensator) settings. The setup is capable of performing time-resolved spectroscopic ellipsometry from the near-infrared through the visible to the near-ultraviolet spectral range at 1.3 eV-3.6 eV. The temporal resolution is on the order of 100 fs within a delay range of more than 5 ns. We analyze and discuss critical aspects such as fluctuations of the probe pulses and imperfections of the polarization optics and present strategies deployed for circumventing related issues.

Automated summary

The study introduces a setup for time-resolved spectroscopic ellipsometry using femtosecond laser pulses, achieving measurements of transient ellipsometric parameters across various spectral ranges with high temporal resolution. Critical aspects such as probe pulse fluctuations and imperfections in polarization optics are analyzed and strategies for addressing related issues are presented.