Quantum-kinetic theory of hot luminescence from pulse-excited semiconductors

We present a theory of time-and-energy-resolved photoluminescence (PL) from semiconductors excited by femto-second laser pulses. Our approach combines quantum kinetics of hot-carrier relaxation and quantum : theory of spontaneous emission, under consistent inclusion of Coulomb interaction. Model calculations show the transition from PL at the pump frequency towards excitonic PL within a few picoseconds. For intermediate, times, we predict hot luminescence to be a sensitive tool to study the electron-lattice interaction. Finally, we extend the theory to the description of photoluminescence excitation (PLE) experiments, and we reinvestigate from first principles the assumption of equivalence between PLE and absorption spectra.