Modeling the relaxation processes of photoexcited solids: A short review

Ultrafast electron dynamics of solids after an absorption of femtosecond laser pulse is governed by electron-electron, electron-phonon, phonon-electron, and phonon-phonon collisions. It is of importance to construct a framework for interpreting experimental observations correctly. In this paper we review recent developments of modeling the relaxation dynamics of solids. We discuss the ultrafast relaxation in respect to the effective temperature dynamics and the excess energy dynamics.