• 文献标题:   Theory of low-power ultra-broadband terahertz sideband generation in bi-layer graphene
  • 文献类型:   Article
  • 作  者:   CROSSE JA, XU XD, SHERWIN MS, LIU RB
  • 作者关键词:  
  • 出版物名称:   NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
  • ISSN:   2041-1723
  • 通讯作者地址:   Chinese Univ Hong Kong
  • 被引频次:   17
  • DOI:   10.1038/ncomms5854
  • 出版年:   2014

▎ 摘  要

In a semiconductor illuminated by a strong terahertz (THz) field, optically excited electron-hole pairs can recombine to emit light in a broad frequency comb evenly spaced by twice the THz frequency. Such high-order THz sideband generation is of interest both as an example of extreme nonlinear optics and also as a method for ultrafast electro-optical modulation. So far, this phenomenon has only been observed with large field strengths (similar to 10kVcm(-1)), an obstacle for technological applications. Here we predict that bi-layer graphene generates high-order sidebands at much weaker THz fields. We find that a THz field of strength 1 kVcm(-1) can produce a high-sideband spectrum of about 30 THz, 100 times broader than in GaAs. The sidebands are generated despite the absence of classical collisions, with the quantum coherence of the electron-hole pairs enabling recombination. These remarkable features lower the barrier to desktop electro-optical modulation at THz frequencies, facilitating ultrafast optical communications.