Hot electron in a polar crystal. II. Loss to single phonon modes

Abstract

A quantum theory of momentum and energy loss of a fast electron based on the eikonal approximation but including quantum interference effects is applied to a hot electron in a polar crystal. The important interaction is assumed to be the electron–polar LO phonon coupling, and this is represented by the Fröhlich polaron model. Numerical results are presented for loss, as a function of time since injection of the hot electron, to phonon modes with wave vectors parallel to the initial injection velocity. A smaller average loss rate than predicted by the golden rule is found, and quantum oscillations are seen in the time dependence of the rate.