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Paper   IPM / Physic / 17776
School of Physics
  Title:   Quadrupolar photovoltaic effect in the terahertz range in a two-dimensional spin- hole system
  Author(s): 
1.  M. Farokhnzhad
2.  W. Coish
3.  R. Asgari
4.  D. Culcer
  Status:   Published
  Journal: Phys. Rev. B
  Vol.:  107
  Year:  2023
  Pages:   085405
  Supported by:  IPM
  Abstract:
The quantum kinetic approach based on the density matrix offers a complete quantum mechanical description of dynamical optical and transport currents in solid-state systems. Starting from the quantum Liouville equation for the density matrix in an external electric field, we identify a strong photovoltaic response due to the nonlinear optical transition between heavy and light hole sub-bands enabled by 𝑇𝑑 symmetry in a quantum well, which we term the quadrupolar photovoltaic effect (QPE). The photovoltaic current exhibits a strong resonance in the vicinity of the heavy hole-light hole splitting, with a magnitude governed by the momentum relaxation time, which can reach nanoseconds in GaAs holes. Since the heavy hole-light hole splitting can be tuned from a few meV to nearly 100 meV, the QPE could serve as the basis for a terahertz photodetector, addressing the famous terahertz gap. We discuss experimental observation and device applications.

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