Determination of the electron-phonon coupling constant in tungsten

We used two methods to determine the effective electron-phonon coupling constant (G(0)) in tungsten. Our first principles calculations predict G(0) = 1.65 x 10(17) Wm(-3) K-1. The temporal decay of the femtosecond-resolution optical reflectivity for a (100) surface of bulk W was measured using a pump-probe scheme and analysed using ab initio parameterised two temperature model, which includes both the effects of the electron-phonon coupling and thermal conduction into bulk. This analysis gives G(0) = 1.4(3) x 10(17) W m(-3) K-1, in good agreement with the theoretical prediction. The described effective method of calculating and measuring G(0) in bulk materials can be easily extended to other metals. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.