Laser-excited acoustic oscillations in silver and bismuth nanowires

Coherent acoustic oscillations in Bi and Ag nanowire samples were studied with a femtosecond pump-probe technique and detection of the scattered light. The observed optical and acoustic properties reflect the nanostructure of these materials. The electronic and lattice contributions to the excitation of coherent acoustic phonons are described using a two-temperature model. The excitation is performed at different laser fluences, and the high density of optically induced excitations modifies the state of the lattice. A transient state with softening of the lattice was observed in Ag nanowire samples.