Sub-cycle optical control of current in a semiconductor: From the multiphoton to the tunneling regime

Tim Paasch-Colberg, Stanislav Yu Kruchinin, Özge Sağlam, Stefan Kapser, Stefano Cabrini, Sascha Muehlbrandt, Joachim Reichert, Johannes V. Barth, Ralph Ernstorfer, Reinhard Kienberger, Vladislav S. Yakovlev, Nicholas Karpowicz, Agustin Schiffrin

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nonlinear interactions between ultrashort optical waveforms and solids can be used to induce and steer electric currents on femtosecond (fs) timescales, holding promise for electronic signal processing at PHz (1015 Hz) frequencies [Nature 493, 70 (2013)]. So far, this approach has been limited to insulators, requiring extreme peak electric fields (>1 V/Å) and intensities (>1013 W/cm2). Here, we show all-optical generation and control of electric currents in a semiconductor relevant for high-speed and high-power (opto)electronics, gallium nitride (GaN), within an optical cycle and on a timescale shorter than 2 fs, at intensities at least an order of magnitude lower than those required for dielectrics. Our approach opens the door to PHz electronics and metrology, applicable to lowpower (non-amplified) laser pulses, and may lead to future applications in semiconductor and (photonic) integrated circuit technologies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1358-1361
Number of pages4
JournalOptica
Volume3
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 20 Dec 2016

Keywords

  • Coherent optical effects
  • Femtosecond phenomena
  • Including semiconductors
  • Multiphoton processes
  • Strong-field processes
  • Ultrafast measurements
  • Ultrafast processes in condensed matter

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