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arXiv · 1810.12721

Sub-cycle quantum electrodynamics in strongly laser-driven semiconductors

N. Tsatrafyllis·S. Kuhn·M. Dumergue·P. Foldi·S. Kahaly·E. Cormier·I. A. Gonoskov·B. Kiss·K. Varju·S. Varro·P. Tzallas
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Abstract

Electrodynamical processes induced in complex systems like semiconductors by strong electromagnetic fields, have traditionally/conventionally been described using semi-classical approaches. Although these approaches, allowed the investigation of ultrafast dynamics in solids culminating in multi-petahertz electronics, they do not provide any access in the quantum optical nature of the interaction as they treat the driving-field classically and unaffected by the interaction. Here, using a full quantum-optical approach, we demonstrate that the sub-cycle electronic response in a strongly driven semiconductor crystal is imprinted in the quantum-state of the driving-field resulting in non-classical light-states carrying the information of the interaction. This vital step towards strong-field ultrafast quantum electrodynamics unravels information inaccessible by conventional approaches and leads to the development of a new class non-classical light sources.

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N. Tsatrafyllis, S. Kuhn, M. Dumergue, P. Foldi, S. Kahaly, E. Cormier, I. A. Gonoskov, B. Kiss, K. Varju, S. Varro, P. Tzallas. 2018-10-30. Sub-cycle quantum electrodynamics in strongly laser-driven semiconductors. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.122.193602

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