Observation of ultrafast hot electron dynamics after strong-field excitation in condensed matter

This thesis presents the design and setup of a novel phase-resolved transient absorption experiment which allows the simultaneous detection of the full complex refractive index change in two polarization axes induced by optical excitation in the strong–field regime. Beside the observation of energy and single-electron momentum relaxation, the transient transport properties of charge carriers are analyzed in mono-crystalline silicon. Moreover, electron dynamics and the proton transfer subsequent to laser ionization of liquid water are measured with a sub-10 femtosecond temporal accuracy.