Ultrafast Photocurrents in the Weyl Semimetal TaAs

ORAL

Abstract

We investigate polarization-dependent, ultrafast photocurrents in the Weyl 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. This is consistent with both the bulk photovoltaic effect and the circular photogalvanic effect observed in direct photocurrent experiments, and provides additional insight into their microscopic origin by way of the dynamical information gained from the emitted THz waveform.

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Presenters

  • Nicholas Sirica

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

Authors

  • Nicholas Sirica

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Ra'anan Tobey

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Lingxiao Zhao

    institute of physics chinese academy of sciences

  • Genfu Chen

    Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, institute of physics chinese academy of sciences

  • Bing Xu

    institute of physics chinese academy of sciences

  • Run Yang

    institute of physics chinese academy of sciences

  • Bing Shen

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, Los Angeles, Physics and Astronomy, university of california los angeles

  • Dzmitry A. Yarotski

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Pamela Bowlan

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Stuart Trugman

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Jian-Xin Zhu

    Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Theoretical Division and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, T4-PHYS OF CONDENSED MATTER & COMPLEX SYS, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los aAlamos, USA, CINT, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory,

  • Yaomin Dai

    School of Physics, Nanjing University

  • Abul K Azad

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Ni Ni

    Physics and Astronomy, university of california los angeles, Univ of California Los Angeles

  • Xianggang Qiu

    institute of physics chinese academy of sciences

  • Antoinette Taylor

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Rohit P Prasankumar

    Los Alamos National Laboratory