Abstract
The physical substance of the coherent control current and the optical rectification have been analyzed based on density matrix perturbation theory. The analytical results demonstrate that they arise from the real and virtual manifestations of the same nonlinear process associated with diagonal and non-diagonal density matrix. And in terms of polarization, they respectively arise from the intraband and interband polarizations. Both the evolution of the coherent control current exited by ultrafast laser pulse and its dependence on frequency have been studied in time and frequency domains. In order to get an explicit knowledge of intraband polarization and the origination of the coherent control current, we have investigated the initial photo-carriers momentum distribution. The ultrafast decay of the polar momentum population in order of tens of femtosends is given to illustrate its instantaneous optical response.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dupont, E., Corkum, P. B., Liu, H. C. et al., Phase-controlled currents in semiconductors, Phys. Rev. Lett., 1995, 74(18): 3596–3599.
Haché, A., Kostoulas, Y., Atanasov, R. et al., Observation of coherently controlled photocurrent in unbiased, bulk GaAs, Phys. Rev. Lett., 1996, 78 (2): 306–309.
Haché, A., Sipe, J. E., van Driel, H. M., Quantum interference control of electrical currents in GaAs, IEEE JQE, 1998, 34(7): 1144–1154.
van Driel, H. M., Coherent control of currents in semiconductors: a materials perspective, Chem. Phys., 2000, 251: 309–318.
Fraser, J. M., Haché, A., Shkrebtii, A. I. et al., Three color coherent generation and control of current in low-temperature-grown GaAs, Appl. Phys. Lett., 1999, 74(14): 2014–2016.
Laman, N., Haché, A., Sipe, J. E. et al., Quantum interference control of currents in CdSe with a single optical beam, Appl. Phys. Lett., 1999, 75(17): 2581–2583.
Atanasov, R., Haché, A., Hughes, J. L. P. et al., Coherent control of photocurrent generation in bulk semiconductors, Phys. Rev. Lett., 1996, 76(10): 1703–1706.
Sheik-Bahae, M., Quantum interference control of current in semiconductors: universal scaling and polarization effects, Phys. Rev. B, 1999, 60(16): R11257-R11260.
Khurgin, J. B., Generation of the teraherz radiation using χ(3) in semiconductor, J. Nonlinear Optical Physics and Materials, 1995, 4(1): 163–189.
Wherrett, B. S., Smirl, A. L., Boggess, T. F., Theory of degenerate four-wave mixing in picosecond excitation-probe experiments, IEEE JQE, 1983, QE-19(4): 680–689.
Zhang Haichao, Deng Li, Wen Jinhui et al., Ultrafast dephasing of interband transitions in semiconductors, Science in China, Ser. A, 2001, 44(10): 1340–1348.
Kane, E. O., Band structure of indium antimonide, J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 1957, 1: 249–261.
Fraser, M. J., Shkrebtii, A. I., Sipe, J. E. et al., Quantum interference in electron-hole generation in noncentrosymmetric semiconductors, Phys. Rev. Lett., 1999, 83(20): 4192–4195.
Bhat, R. D. R., Sipe, J. E., Optically injected spin currents in semiconductors, Phys. Rev. Lett., 2000, 85(25): 5432–5435.
Stevens, M. J., Smirl, A. L., Bhat, R. D. R. et al., Coherent control of an optically injected ballistic spin-polarized current in bulk GaAs, J. Appl. Phys. 91 (7): 4382–4386.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shou, Q., Zhang, H., Liu, L. et al. The density matrix picture of laser coherent control current. Sci China Ser G: Phy & Ast 47, 231–243 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1360/03yw0152
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1360/03yw0152