Weyl semimetals have been the focus of intense experimental and theoretical investigation, due to their broad appeal in fundamental science and applied technology alike. More recently, several studies have centered on the nonlinear optical properties of these materials, where it is believed that characteristic features of Weyl physics can be observed. To date, these studies have been limited to static or quasi-static measurements, but new and important insights can come about through extending these nonlinear optical spectroscopies into the time domain. To do so, we use terahertz (THz) emission spectroscopy and time-resolved second harmonic generation (TR-SHG) spectroscopy to provide a contact free measure of ultrafast photocurrent dynamics in the transition metal monopnictide family of type-I Weyl semimetals. On the basis of our data, we are able to clearly distinguish between helicity-dependent photocurrents generated within the ab-plane and polarization-independent photocurrents flowing along the non-centrosymmetric c-axis. Such findings are consistent with earlier static photocurrent experiments, and demonstrate on the basis of both the physical constraints imposed by symmetry and the temporal dynamics intrinsic to current generation and decay that optically induced photocurrents in TaAs are inherent to the underlying crystal symmetry. Such generality in the microscopic origin of photocurrent generation in the transition metal monopnictide family of Weyl semimetals makes these materials promising candidates as next generation sources or detectors in the mid-IR and THz frequency ranges.
Ultrashort terahertz (THz) pulses are a powerful tool for both probing and controlling novel phenomena in quantum materials. This is particularly useful in Dirac materials, since these materials exhibit novel magnetic and lattice excitations that can potentially be used to control their properties. Here, the use of ultrashort THz pulses to reveal the circular photogalvanic effect in the Weyl semimetal TaAs and probe magnetoplasmon modes in graphene nanoribbons will be examined.
We performed THz emission spectroscopy on the (112) and (001) surfaces of the Weyl semimetal TaAs. Our data enables us to clearly distinguish between helicity-dependent photocurrents generated within the ab-plane and polarization-independent photocurrents flowing along the non-centrosymmetric c-axis. Such findings are in excellent agreement with previous static photocurrent measurements. However, by considering both the physical constraints imposed by symmetry and the temporal dynamics intrinsic to current generation and decay, we can attribute these transient photocurrents to the underlying crystal symmetry of these materials.
We also used terahertz (THz) magneto-optical spectroscopy to demonstrate how a periodic array of graphene micro-ribbons can be used to control the transmission spectrum and polarization state of a THz pulse whose electric field is oriented along the pattern’s axis of periodicity (perpendicular to the long axis of the ribbons). Our results demonstrate that graphene micro-ribbon arrays are a powerful system for controlling the coupling between light and magnetoplasmonic modes. This enables the tailoring of THz transmission profiles and polarization states using applied magnetic fields.
We investigate polarization-dependent ultrafast photocurrents in theWeyl semimetal TaAs using terahertz (THz) emission spectroscopy. Our results reveal that highly directional, transient photocurrents are generated along the non-centrosymmetric c-axis regardless of incident light polarization, while helicity-dependent photocurrents are excited within the ab-plane. Such findings are consistent with earlier static photocurrent experiments, and demonstrate on the basis of both the physical constraints imposed by symmetry and the temporal dynamics intrinsic to current generation and decay that optically induced photocurrents in TaAs are inherent to the underlying crystal symmetry. Such generality in the microscopic origin of photocurrent generation in the transition metal monopnictide family of Weyl semimetals makes these materials promising candidates as next generation sources or detectors in the mid-IR and terahertz frequency ranges.
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