280 research outputs found
Chaos in one-dimensional lattices under intense laser fields
A model is investigated where a monochromatic, spatially homogeneous laser
field interacts with an electron in a one-dimensional periodic lattice. The
classical Hamiltonian is presented and the technique of stroboscopic maps is
used to study the dynamical behavior of the model. The electron motion is found
to be completely regular only for small field amplitudes, developing a larger
chaotic region as the amplitude increases. The quantum counterpart of the
classical Hamiltonian is derived. Exact numerical diagonalizations show the
existence of universal, random-matrix fluctuations in the electronic energy
bands dressed by the laser field. A detailed analysis of the classical phase
space is compatible with the statistical spectral analysis of the quantum
model. The application of this model to describe transport and optical
absorption in semiconductor superlattices submitted to intense infrared laser
radiation is proposed.Comment: 9 pages, RevTex 3.0, EPSF (6 figures), to appear in Europhys. J.
Electronic band structure of GaAs/AlxGa1−xAs superlattice in an intense laser field
ABSTRACT: We perform theoretical calculations for the band structure of semiconductor superlattice under intense high-frequency laser field. In the frame of the non-perturbative approach, the laser effects are included via laser-dressed potential. Results reveal that an intense laser field creates an additional geometric confinement on the electronic states. Numerical results show that when tuning the strength of the laser field significant changes come in the electronic energy levels and density of states
Finite element 3-D model of a double quantum ring: effects of electric and laser fields on the interband transition
In this work, the changes in the energy of electrons and holes, oscillator
strength and interband transition time when external fields are applied to a
GaAs/AlGaAs semiconductor double ring grown by the droplet epitaxy technique
are theoretically analyzed. We consider a static electric field and an intense
laser field nonresonant with the quantum structure, with variable intensities
and orientations with respect to the symmetry axis of the quantum ring. In the
formalism of the effective mass approximation for electrons and holes, the
energies and wavefunctions were numerically computed using the finite element
method implemented with an accurate three-dimensional model of the real quantum
ring. Laser dressing of the confining potential was performed using the exact
integration formula at each point. Our results show major differences between
the effects of the two types of applied fields, caused mainly by the static
electric-field-induced strong polarizability of the confined electron-hole
pair. In addition, the effects of both fields exhibit strong anisotropy in the
electronic properties as a result of the particular flattened geometry of the
quantum ring. Proper combinations of field strengths and orientations are
helpful in designing accurate tools for the sensitive manipulation of interband
radiative properties.Comment: 23 pages, 15 figures, 3 table
Advances in Synthetic Gauge Fields for Light Through Dynamic Modulation
Photons are weak particles that do not directly couple to magnetic fields.
However, it is possible to generate a photonic gauge field by breaking
reciprocity such that the phase of light depends on its direction of
propagation. This non-reciprocal phase indicates the presence of an effective
magnetic field for the light itself. By suitable tailoring of this phase it is
possible to demonstrate quantum effects typically associated with electrons,
and as has been recently shown, non-trivial topological properties of light.
This paper reviews dynamic modulation as a process for breaking the
time-reversal symmetry of light and generating a synthetic gauge field, and
discusses its role in topological photonics, as well as recent developments in
exploring topological photonics in higher dimensions.Comment: 20 pages, 3 figure
Polariton panorama
In this brief review, we summarize and elaborate on some of the nomenclature of polaritonic phenomena and systems as they appear in the literature on quantum materials and quantum optics. Our summary includes at least 70 different types of polaritonic light–matter dressing effects. This summary also unravels a broad panorama of the physics and applications of polaritons. A constantly updated version of this review is available at https://infrared.cni.columbia.edu
High-frequency acoustoelectronic phenomena in miniband superlattices
The motion of a quantum particle in a periodic potential can generate rich dynamics in the presence of a driving field. Such systems include, but are not limited to, semiconductor superlattices which exhibit a very anisotropic band structure that results into pronounced nonlinearities and high carrier mobility. In this thesis, we investigate the semiclassical dynamics and electron transport in a spatially periodic potential driven by a propagating wave.
Firstly, we examine the transport features of an electron in a single miniband superlattice driven by a high-frequency acoustic plane wave. In this system, the nonlinear electron dynamics crucially depends on the amplitude of the acoustic wave. The transport characteristics are studied by means of a non-linearised kinetic model. In particular, to provide a realistic description of the directed transport, we employ the exact path-integral solutions of the Boltzmann transport equation. The calculated electron drift velocity and the time-averaged velocity show a nonmonotonic dependence upon the amplitude of the acoustic wave with multiple pronounced extrema. We found out that the changes in the velocity-amplitude characteristics are directly associated with a series of global bifurcations due to topological rearrangements of the phase space of the system. These dramatic transformations are connected with superlattice intraminiband transitions, and accompanied by inelastic emission (absorption) of the quantum particle. The bifurcations also signify the transitions between different dynamical regimes, involving unconfined electron motion, wave-dragging and phonon-assisted Bloch oscillations. Each regime has a characteristic spectral fingerprint, which manifests itself in appearance of specific high-frequency components in the spectra of the corresponding averaging trajectory.
Secondly, we consider to use the acoustically pumped superlattices for an amplification of THz electromagnetic waves, involving the mechanisms similar to the Bloch gain in electrically biased superlattices. In particular, we predict the tunable THz gain due to nonlinear oscillations which are associated with the localised motion of electrons confined by a propagating potential wave. Traditionally, one of the key issues which emerges from considering different schemes for achieving small signal gain in superlattices, is the control of electric stability. Here, it is shown that for our case of the fast miniband electrons driven by an acoustic wave, terahertz gain can occur without the electric instability. Additionally, we find that the characteristic changes in the averaged velocities are connected to the shape of gain profiles.
Consequently, the analytic findings, which determine the transitions between different dynamical regimes at the bifurcations, hold up for the behaviour of amplification of high-frequency electromagnetic waves. The increase of the miniband width, results in an enhancement of the effect of phase space restructuring on the drift velocity and high-frequency gain.
Finally, we analyse the case for a superlattice device utilising acoustic waves with a very slow propagation speed. Benefiting from a simple solution of the Boltzmann equation, here we clarify the role of spatial nonlinearity both in miniband electron dynamics and in amplification of an electromagnetic wave. We show that nonlinear Bloch oscillations occur at a single critical value of the wave amplitude, inducing high negative differential drift velocity. Within this model, we also explain how the amplification of a high-frequency signal can arise below the threshold for an excitation of Bloch oscillations
Floquet interface states in illuminated three-dimensional topological insulators
Recent experiments showed that the surface of a three dimensional topological
insulator develops gaps in the Floquet-Bloch band spectrum when illuminated
with a circularly polarized laser. These Floquet-Bloch bands are characterized
by non-trivial Chern numbers which only depend on the helicity of the
polarization of the radiation field. Here we propose a setup consisting of a
pair of counter-rotating lasers, and show that one-dimensional chiral states
emerge at the interface between the two lasers. These interface states turn out
to be spin-polarized and may trigger interesting applications in the field of
optoelectronics and spintronics.Comment: 5 pages with 3 figures + supplemental materia
Waves in active and passive periodic structures: A review
The theory and recent applications of waves in periodic structures are reviewed. Both the Floquet and coupled waves approach are analyzed in some detail. The theoretical part of the paper includes wave propagation in unbounded and bounded active or passive periodic media, wave scatterring from periodic boundaries, source radiation (dipole, Cerenkov, transition, and Smith-Purcell) in-periodic media, and pulse transmission through a periodic slab. The applications part covers the recent development in a variety of fields: distributed feedback oscillators, filters, mode convertors, couplers, second-harmonic generators, deflectors, modulators and transducers in the fields of integrated optics and integrated surface acoustics. We also review the work on insect compound eyes, mehanical structures ocean waves, pulse compressions, temperature waves, and cholestric liquid crystals. Particles interaction with crystals is briefly reviewed, especially in the case of zeolite crystals and supelattices. Recent advances in fabrication techniques for very fine gratings me also covered. Finally, speculations about future problems and development in the field of waves in periodic structures are given
Hierarchy of Floquet gaps and edge states for driven honeycomb lattices
Electromagnetic driving in a honeycomb lattice can induce gaps and
topological edge states with a structure of increasing complexity as the
frequency of the driving lowers. While the high frequency case is the most
simple to analyze we focus on the multiple photon processes allowed in the low
frequency regime to unveil the hierarchy of Floquet edge-states. In the case of
low intensities an analytical approach allows us to derive effective
Hamiltonians and address the topological character of each gap in a
constructive manner. At high intensities we obtain the net number of edge
states, given by the winding number, with a numerical calculation of the Chern
numbers of each Floquet band. Using these methods, we find a hierarchy that
resembles that of a Russian nesting doll. This hierarchy classifies the gaps
and the associated edge states in different orders according to the
electron-photon coupling strength. For large driving intensities, we rely on
the numerical calculation of the winding number, illustrated in a map of
topological phase transitions. The hierarchy unveiled with the low energy
effective Hamiltonians, alongside with the map of topological phase transitions
discloses the complexity of the Floquet band structure in the low frequency
regime. The proposed method for obtaining the effective Hamiltonian can be
easily adapted to other Dirac Hamiltonians of two dimensional materials and
even the surface of a 3D topological insulator.Comment: Phys. Rev. A 91, 04362
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