Investigation of the shape of a cloud of electron-hole droplets in germanium

Absorption and scattering of light are used to investigate a cloud of electron-hole drops in Ge at 2^∘{}K. We find a drop size of 2 {μ}m, from light scattering; and use an Abel transform to unfold the absorption data and obtain a complete droplet density map. The cloud is distinctly nonspherical. The droplet penetration in a direction perpendicular to the surface of excitation is 1.5 times greater than that in a parallel direction. This result is discussed in terms of alternative models for cloud formation.