This work investigates the dependence of the hot-electron energy relaxation in InN epilayers on electron density. From the high-energy tail of photoluminescence, the electron temperature of the hot electrons was determined. Acoustic phonons have an important role in the energy relaxation of the hot electrons. The density-dependent electron energy loss rate in InN can be explained by a combination of longitudinal optical and acoustic phonon emissions. A slowing of energy loss rate at high electron densities was observed and attributed to piezoelectric coupling to acoustic phonons. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3056383]
