Abstract
The use of quantum interference effects to control the properties of semiconductors via phased optical beams has been a subject of strong recent interest.1,2 Previously our group showed2 that interference between one and two photon absorption processes at 2ω and ω respectively can inject currents in crystalline semiconductors. In the context of nonlinear optics, the current injection tensor can be understood as a physically divergent piece of χ(3) (0;ω,ω>,–2ω). Here we show that for certain non-centrosymmetric crystals, current injection can also occur via quantum interference of absorption processes involving orthogonally polarized photons from a single color beam. Related processes have been previously discussed phenomenologically3 in connection with anisotropic carrier scattering and photovoltaic effects under the name of circular photocurrent.
© 1999 Optical Society of America
PDF ArticleMore Like This
M. Sheik-Bahae
QMB2 Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference (CLEO:FS) 1999
R.D.R. Bhat and J.E. Sipe
QTuM2 Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference (CLEO:FS) 1999
Y. Kerachian, P. Nemec, R. D. R. Bhat, J. E. Sipe, H. M. van Driel, and Arthur L. Smirl
QThF1 Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference (CLEO:FS) 2003