Subcycle observation of lightwave-driven Dirac currents in a topological surface band

J. Reimann, S. Schlauderer, C. P. Schmid, F. Langer, S. Baierl, K. A. Kokh, O. E. Tereshchenko, A. Kimura, C. Lange, J. Güdde, U. Höfer () and R. Huber ()
Additional contact information
J. Reimann: Philipps-University of Marburg
S. Schlauderer: University of Regensburg
C. P. Schmid: University of Regensburg
F. Langer: University of Regensburg
S. Baierl: University of Regensburg
K. A. Kokh: V.S. Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
O. E. Tereshchenko: Novosibirsk State University
A. Kimura: Hiroshima University
C. Lange: University of Regensburg
J. Güdde: Philipps-University of Marburg
U. Höfer: Philipps-University of Marburg
R. Huber: University of Regensburg

Nature, 2018, vol. 562, issue 7727, 396-400

Abstract: Abstract Harnessing the carrier wave of light as an alternating-current bias may enable electronics at optical clock rates1. Lightwave-driven currents have been assumed to be essential for high-harmonic generation in solids2–6, charge transport in nanostructures7,8, attosecond-streaking experiments9–16 and atomic-resolution ultrafast microscopy17,18. However, in conventional semiconductors and dielectrics, the finite effective mass and ultrafast scattering of electrons limit their ballistic excursion and velocity. The Dirac-like, quasi-relativistic band structure of topological insulators19–29 may allow these constraints to be lifted and may thus open a new era of lightwave electronics. To understand the associated, complex motion of electrons, comprehensive experimental access to carrier-wave-driven currents is crucial. Here we report angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with subcycle time resolution that enables us to observe directly how the carrier wave of a terahertz light pulse accelerates Dirac fermions in the band structure of the topological surface state of Bi2Te3. While terahertz streaking of photoemitted electrons traces the electromagnetic field at the surface, the acceleration of Dirac states leads to a strong redistribution of electrons in momentum space. The inertia-free surface currents are protected by spin–momentum locking and reach peak densities as large as two amps per centimetre, with ballistic mean free paths of several hundreds of nanometres, opening up a realistic parameter space for all-coherent lightwave-driven electronic devices. Furthermore, our subcycle-resolution analysis of the band structure may greatly improve our understanding of electron dynamics and strong-field interaction in solids.

Keywords: Dirac Current; Topological Surface States; Angle-resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy (ARPES); Bi 2Te 3; Three-dimensional Topological Insulator (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0544-x

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