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