Light-field and spin-orbit-driven currents in van der Waals materials

Nanophotonics

Kiemle Jonas¹  Kastl Christoph¹  Holleitner Alexander W.¹  Zimmermann Philipp¹ 

[1] Walter Schottky Institute and Physics Department, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 4a, Garching, 85748, Germany;

关键词: light-wave-driven currents;    optoelectronics;    photoemission;    terahertz;    topology;    two-dimensional materials;    ultrafast currents;   

DOI  :  10.1515/nanoph-2020-0226

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

This review aims to provide an overview over recent developments of light-driven currents with a focus on their application to layered van der Waals materials. In topological and spin-orbit dominated van der Waals materials helicity-driven and light-field-driven currents are relevant for nanophotonic applications from ultrafast detectors to on-chip current generators. The photon helicity allows addressing chiral and non-trivial surface states in topological systems, but also the valley degree of freedom in two-dimensional van der Waals materials. The underlying spin-orbit interactions break the spatiotemporal electrodynamic symmetries, such that directed currents can emerge after an ultrafast laser excitation. Equally, the light-field of few-cycle optical pulses can coherently drive the transport of charge carriers with sub-cycle precision by generating strong and directed electric fields on the atomic scale. Ultrafast light-driven currents may open up novel perspectives at the interface between photonics and ultrafast electronics.

【 授权许可】

Unknown