Ultrafast dephasing dynamics and multi-level electronic structure of InP nanocrystals

Semiconductor nanocrystals are a novel class of materials intermediate between the molecular and solid state forms of matter. Their homogenous linewidths and electronic structure are of considerable interest for the understanding of the physics of quantum confinement. In this work we study the electronic and vibrational dephasing dynamics in InP nanocrystals using femtosecond three pulse photon echo (3PPE) experiments 1 complemented by nanosecond transient hole-burning (HB) spectroscopy. 2 The echo decay is explained by taking into account the multi-level electronic structure as observed in the hole-burning experiment.