Nonlinear terahertz response of -type GaAs

Phys Rev Lett. 2006 May 12;96(18):187402. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.187402. Epub 2006 May 12.

Abstract

Excitation of an n-type GaAs layer by intense ultrashort terahertz pulses causes coherent emission at 2 THz. Phase-resolved nonlinear propagation experiments show a picosecond decay of the emitted field, despite the ultrafast carrier-carrier scattering at a sample temperature of 300 K. While the linear THz response is in agreement with the Drude response of free electrons, the nonlinear response is dominated by the super-radiant decay of optically inverted impurity transitions. A quantum mechanical discrete state model using the potential of the disordered impurities accounts for all experimental observations.