Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011
Laser induced insulator-to-metal phase transition in VO2 thin films was explored using femtosecond optical pump-probe spectroscopy. The transient reflection and relaxation processes in VO2 were observed during phase transition on 10-11 - 10-9 temporal-scale. Optical generation of carriers in VO2 initiates extremely fast changes in reflectivity which is strongly dependent on pump fluence. Analysis of transient optical properties allows suggesting the excitonic-controlled mechanism responsible for the light-induced phase transition in VO2.