It is the goal of the overall research program to determine in detail laser induced transient dynamics of phonon and of electronic carrier after optical excitation. Prior activity in insulators and semiconductors is to be expanded to include normal and superconducting metallic films. The proposed research represents an effort to expand the existing program on laser induced excitations of solids and their subsequent decay into secondary excitations and their eventual return to thermal equilibrium. The results obtained so far offer an excellent opportunity for the utilization of existing methods and facilities. Experimentation is to be carried out at the author`s picosecond and femtosecond laser facility which includes dual synchronously pumped and synchronously amplified dye laser systems.
