arXiv subjects

Kazuhiro Yabana

Publications and source records attributed to Kazuhiro Yabana.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Strong-field electro-optic sampling of light

We report the experimental realization of electro-optic sampling of light utilizing strong-field light-matter interaction. We show that in contrast to the perturbative regime where the non-linear signal (eg. sum-frequency generation) is localized at the narrowband spectrum that must match the local oscillator, the strong-field regime relies on the generation of a supercontinuum that automatically fulfills the overlaps with a local oscillator providing extremely broadband detection bandwidth. We develop a semi-classical model, benchmark it against the experiments with carrier-envelope-phase (CEP) stable sub-3 femtosecond pulses of octave-spanning bandwidth, and further validate it by a first-principle time-dependent density functional (TDDFT) theory. Our work establishes a simple electro-optic approach for investigating broadband high-frequency dynamics of matter on sub-cycle timescales with attosecond precision.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Microscopic Origin of Dephasing in Solids from First-Principles Electron-Phonon Interactions

Electron-phonon interactions provide a microscopic origin of effective dephasing in solids within real -time TDDFT via a time-domain Williams-Lax framework. In metals, Drude -like damping emerges from a single disordered configuration; in dielectrics, the same mechanism yields clean high-harmonic spectra without introducing ultrashort phenomenological dephasing times. Mapping supercell dynamics onto a primitive-cell density matrix reveals that dephasing is governed primarily by population dynamics (diagonal elements) rather than by the decay of off-diagonal coherence.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2025

Strong Field Optical Hall Effect in 2D Weyl Semimetal

The study of interplay between the geometric nature of Bloch electrons and transverse responses under strong field offers new opportunities for optoelectronic applications. Here, we present a comprehensive study of the strong-field response of Weyl Dirac nodes in bilayer T'-WTe2 using time-dependent first-principles formalism. The electron dynamics is explored focusing on the mid-infrared frequency, ranging from the perturbative to nonperturbative regime. In the nonperturbative regime, the high-harmonic generation (HHG) spectra under a strong field clearly exhibit a plateau and energy cutoffs for both longitudinal and anomalous Hall (transverse) currents, with the latter being due to the large interband Berry curvature of the Weyl-Dirac semimetal. For the longitudinal harmonics, the intraband contributions increase with intensity, resulting in a complex interplay between interband polarization and intraband motions. Remarkably, if we take a comprehensive all-band perspective enabled by time-dependent density functional calculations, the anomalous Hall responses are purely attributed to the interband processes, even in the nonperturbative regime, thus Hall HHG can be crucial to understand the carrier dynamics. Our findings suggest that HHG associated with the ultrafast strong-field driven electron dynamics holds immense potential for exploring the nonlinear high Hall responses in Weyl semimetal.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Ultrafast Optical Control of Multi-Valley States in 2D SnS

We theoretically study the ultrafast optical control of multiple valley states in two-dimensional (2D) tin sulfide (SnS) monolayers, a member of the layered group-IV monochalcogenides, which is a promising class of materials for overcoming current challenges in valleytronics. By combining time-dependent density functional theory with Maxwells equations, we simulate how both linearly and circularly polarized ultrashort laser pulses affect the electronic excitation dynamics and valley polarization in SnS. Our results reveal that the corrugated phosphorene-like crystal structure of SnS monolayers leads to the emergence of both linear and circular dichroism, allowing flexible manipulation of multi-valley excitation by simply adjusting the light polarization. Moreover, the interplay between broken inversion symmetry and spin-orbit coupling gives rise to distinct Berry curvature effects and spin-valley coupling, thereby enabling circular dichroism. Furthermore, we propose that tuning the carrier-envelope phase of few-cycle femtosecond laser pulses can achieve sub-cycle, ultrafast switching among multiple valleys states. These findings not only deepen our understanding of valley dynamics in 2D materials but may also open new avenues for the development of valleytronic devices.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Pulse compression by photoexcitation-induced dynamics of Bragg mirrors

We propose dynamical Bragg mirrors as a means to compress intense short optical pulses. We show that strong-field photoexcitation of carriers changes the refractive index of the layers and leads to motion of the resonance-defined boundary of the Bragg mirror. In a reflection geometry, this counter-propagating motion leads to significant compression of the incident pulse. We utilize a finite-difference time-domain numerical model to predict up to a 6-fold pulse compression in the few-femtosecond regime. Modification of the refractive index and properties of the compressed pulse as a function of the incident pulse parameters are investigated.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Photoionization-induced reflection for benchmarking of the photoionization models in solid

The choice of the most suitable analytic photoionization model in solids is a challenging task with no default solution. Here we show how the best formalism can be determined based on the waveform of the pulse reflected by a sample due to photoionized almost-free electrons in the conduction band. For a typical case of diamond, we compare three simple models and benchmark them against highly accurate first-principle TDDFT simulation, by analysing the fit between the reflected pulses in time and frequency domain. For the aims of this paper, we have developed a software package, called PIGLET, for the FDTD simulation of photoionization-governed propagation, which is now freely available for the scientific community. Furthermore, we show that due to interband contributions for very short sub-10-fs pulses a semi-classical description based on any analytical photoionization model fail to provide an adequate description.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Wide-bandgap optical materials for high-harmonics generation at the nanoscale

High-order harmonics generation (HHG) is the only process that enables table-top-size sources of extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) light. The HHG process typically involves light interactions with gases or plasma-material phases that hinder wider adoption of such sources. This motivates the research in HHG from nanostructured solids. Here we investigate theoretically material platforms for HHG at the nanoscale using first-principle supercomputer simulations. We reveal that wide bandgap semiconductors, aluminium nitride AlN and silicon nitride SiN, are highly promising for XUV light generation when compared to one of the most common nonlinear nanophotonic material -- silicon. In our calculations we assume excitation with 100 fs pulse duration, 10^13 W/cm^2 peak power and 800 nm central wavelength. We demonstrate that in AlN material the interplay between the crystal symmetry and the incident light direction and polarization can enable the generation of both even and odd harmonics. Our results should advance the developments of high-harmonics generation of XUV light from nanostructured solids.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Interaction of intense ultrashort laser pulses with solid targets: A systematic analysis using first-principles calculations

Intense ultrashort laser pulse irradiation of solid targets was systematically investigated at the first-principles level, both theoretically and computationally. In the method, the propagation of a pulsed light through a thin film is described by a one-dimensional Maxwell's equation, and the microscopic electronic motion at different positions in the film is described by employing first-principles time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The method uses a coarse-graining approximation to couple light propagation and electronic motion, and is termed the multiscale Maxwell-TDDFT method. The reflectance, transmittance, and absorbance of pulsed light incident normally on thin films of 50-200 nm thickness were calculated for materials with different optical properties, such as aluminum (simple metal), graphite (semi-metal), silicon (small-gap dielectric), and quartz (wide-gap dielectric). Optical response transitions were explored as the light intensity shifted from the linear regime, represented by the dielectric function for weak light, to the extremely nonlinear regime, represented by plasma reflection under intense light conditions. Numerous mechanisms that depend on the laser pulse intensity and material type were found to contribute to these changes. These include multiphoton absorption, saturable absorption, sign change of the effective dielectric constant, and transition from quantum occupation to classical Boltzmann distribution. Thus, the calculations provide a unified understanding of the interaction of intense pulsed light with solids, occurring on an extremely short time scale.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2023

Subcycle control of valley-selective excitation via dynamical Franz-Keldysh effect in WSe$_2$ monolayer

This study performed first-principles calculations based on the time-dependent density functional theory to control the valley degree of freedom relating to the dynamical Franz-Keldysh effect (DFKE) in a monolayer of transition metal dichalcogenide. By mimicking the attosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, we performed numerical pump-probe experiments to observe DFKE around the $K$ or $K'$ valley in WSe$_2$ monolayer with a linearly-polarized pump field and a circularly-polarized probe pulse. We found that the circularly-polarized probe pulse with a given helicity can selectively observe the transient conductivity modulated by DFKE in each valley. The transient conductivity and excitation probability around each valley oscillate with the pump field frequency $Ω$. The phases of the $Ω$ oscillation for the $K$ and $K'$ valleys are opposite to each other. Furthermore, the pump-driven DFKE alters the absorption rate of WSe$_2$ monolayer and yields the valley-dependent $Ω$ oscillation of the electron excitation induced by the pump plus probe field. With a simplified two-band model, we identified the $Ω$ oscillation of the off-diagonal conductivity caused by the band asymmetry around the valleys as the physical mechanism responsible for the valley-selective DFKE.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Enhancement of valley selective excitation by a linearly polarized two-color laser pulse

Here we proposed the valley selective excitations via a two-color (\ensuremathω + \ensuremath{2ω}) laser field, made by superimposing two linearly polarized pulses at frequencies \ensuremathω and \ensuremath{2ω}. We have studied the intensity ratio between a few-cycle pulse of \ensuremathω and \ensuremath{2ω} laser, and its enhancement factor by employing the time-dependent first-principle calculations. The valley polarization depends on the carrier envelope phases (CEPs) of pulses and the intensity ratio $I_ω/I_{2ω}$. We found that the two-color field enhances the valley polarization as much as 1.2 times larger than the single-color pulse. The maximum valley asymmetry is achieved for the intensity ratio $I_ω/I_{2ω}$ of 36 with the relative CEP of \ensuremathπ. In our previous work, we found that the asymmetric vector potential induces the valley polarization (Phys. Rev. B 105,115403 (2022)). In this work, we find that the asymmetry of the electric field modulates the valley polarization. Our two-color scheme offers a new path toward the optical control of valley pseudospins. \end{abstract}

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

Propagation effects in high-harmonic generation from dielectric thin films

Theoretical investigation is conducted of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) in silicon thin films to elucidate the effect of light propagation in reflected and transmitted waves. The first-principles simulations are performed of the process in which an intense pulsed light irradiates silicon thin films up to 3 $μ$m thickness. Our simulations are carried within the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) with the account of coupled dynamics of the electromagnetic fields and the electronic motion. It was found that the intensity of transmission HHG gradually decreases with the thickness, while the reflection HHG becomes constant from a certain thickness. Detailed analyses show that transmission HHG have two origins: the HHG generated near the front edge and propagating to the back surface, and that generated near the back edge and emitted directly. The dominating mechanism of the transmission HHG is found to depend on the thickness of the thin film and the frequency of the HHG. At the film thickness of 1 $μ$m, the transmission HHG with the frequency below 20 eV is generated near the back edge, while that with the frequency above 20 eV is generated near the front edge and propagates from there to the back surface.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

High order harmonic generation in semiconductors driven at near- and mid-IR wavelengths

We study high order harmonics generation (HHG) in crystalline silicon and diamond subjected to near and mid-infrared laser pulses. We employ time-dependent density functional theory and solve the time-dependent Kohn-Sham equation in the single-cell geometry. We demonstrate that clear and clean HHG spectra can be generated with careful selection of the pulse duration. In addition, we simulate dephasing effects in a large silicon super-cell through displacement of atomic positions prepared by a molecular dynamics simulation. We compare our results with the previous calculations by Floss et al. [arXiv:1705.10707] [Phys. Rev. A 97, 011401(R) (2018)] on Diamond at 800 nm and by Tancogne-Dejean et al. [arXiv:1609.09298] [Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 087403 (2017)] on Si at 3000 nm.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

First-principles method for nonlinear light propagation at oblique incidence

We have developed a computational method to describe the nonlinear light propagation of an intense and ultrashort pulse at oblique incidence on a flat surface. In the method, coupled equations of macroscopic light propagation and microscopic electron dynamics are simultaneously solved using a multiscale modeling. The microscopic electronic motion is described by first-principles time-dependent density functional theory. The macroscopic Maxwell equations that describe oblique light propagation are transformed into one-dimensional wave equations. As an illustration of the method, light propagation at oblique incidence on a silicon thin film is presented.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

Electron spill-out effect on third-order optical nonlinearity of metallic nanostructure

Over the last three decades, plasmonics using metallic nanostructures has become central to nanophotonics research. Recently, its targets have been extended to nonlinear optical phenomena. In a nonlinear regime, quantum mechanical effects, as exemplified by electron spill-out on the surface of nanostructures, significantly influence the optical response. Quantum hydrodynamic theory (QHT) is a promising basis for the analysis of nonlinear optical responses involving such quantum mechanical effects. Herein, QHT was applied to calculate the third-order optical nonlinearity of a spherical metallic nanostructure. The results demonstrate how electron spill-out strongly affects plasmon resonance and third-order optical nonlinearity.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

Infrared-Shielding of Plasmonic Random Metasurface Constructed by Cesium-Doped Tungsten Bronze

The heat-shielding properties of random metasurface, composed of spherical or spheroidal nanoparticles with random displacements and/or random deformation, were theoretically investigated using the finite difference time domain method. The effective coverage was defined using the total area of nanoparticles in the metasurface, and the robustness of the near-infrared light reflection against randomness was investigated. When the effective coverage was high, the near-infrared light reflection was reduced by at least 20% in both nanoparticle arrangement and shape randomness compared to the hexagonal close-packed perfect metasurface. In contrast, when effective coverage was low, the randomness of the nanoparticle arrangement had almost no effect on the near-infrared light reflection. Furthermore, the near-infrared light reflection performance was improved by the randomness of the nanoparticle shape.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Nonlinear dynamics of electromagnetic field and valley polarization in WSe$_{2}$ monolayer

Linear and nonlinear optical response of WSe$_{2}$ monolayer is investigated by two-dimensional Maxwell plus time-dependent density functional theory with spin-orbit interaction. By applying the chiral resonant pulses, the electron dynamics along with high harmonic generation are examined at weak and strong laser fields. WSe$_{2}$ monolayer shows the linear optical response at the intensity I = 10$^{10}$~W/cm$^{2}$ while a complex nonlinear behavior is observed at I = 10$^{12}$~W/cm$^{2}$. The nonlinear response of WSe$_{2}$ monolayer in terms of saturable absorption is observed at strong laser field. By changing the chirality of the resonant light, a strong circular dichroic effect is observed in the excited state population. A relatively weak laser field shows effective valley polarization while strong field induces spin-polarized carrier peak between $K$($K'$) and $\mathitΓ$-point via nonlinear process. On the other hand, the strong laser field shows high harmonics up to the 11th order. Our results demonstrate that circularly polarized resonant pulse generate high harmonics in WSe$_{2}$ monolayer of order 3n$\pm1$.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Valley polarization control in WSe2 monolayer by a single-cycle laser pulse

Abstract The valley degree of freedom in two-dimensional materials provides an opportunity to extend the functionalities of valleytronics devices. Very short valley lifetimes demand the ultrafast control of valley pseudospin. Here, we theoretically demonstrate the control of valley pseudospin in WSe2 monolayer by single-cycle linearly polarized laser pulse. We use the asymmetric electric field controlled by the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) to make the valley polarization between K and K'-point in the Brillouin zone (BZ). Time-dependent density functional theory with spin-orbit interaction reveals that no valley asymmetry and its CEP dependence is observed within the linear-optical limit. In the nonlinear-optical regime, linearly polarized pulse induces a high degree of valley polarization and this polarization is robust against the field strength. Valley polarization strongly depends and oscillates as a function of CEP. The carrier density distribution forms nodes as the laser intensity increases, our results indicate that the position of the carrier density in the BZ can be controlled by the laser intensity. From the analysis by the massive Dirac Hamiltonian model, the nodes of the carrier density can be attributed to the Landau-Zener-Stückelberg interference of wave packets of the electron wave function.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Numerical scheme for nonlinear optical response of metallic nanostructure: Quantum hydrodynamic theory solved by adopting effective Schrödinger equation

Quantum hydrodynamic theory (QHT) can describe some of the characteristic features of quantum electron dynamics that appear in metallic nanostructures, such as spatial nonlocality, electron spill-out, and quantum tunneling. Furthermore, numerical simulations based on QHT are more efficient than fully quantum mechanical approaches, as exemplified by time-dependent density functional theory using a jellium model. However, QHT involves kinetic energy functionals, the practical implementation of which typically induces significant numerical instabilities, particularly in nonlinear optical phenomena. To mitigate this problem, we develop a numerical solution to QHT that is quite stable, even in a nonlinear regime. The key to our approach is to rewrite the dynamical equation of QHT using the effective Schrödinger equation. We apply the new method to the linear and nonlinear responses of a metallic nanoparticle and compare the results with fully quantum mechanical calculations. The results demonstrate the numerical stability of our method, as well as the reliability and limitations of QHT.

physics.optics↗