Photovoltage in curved 1D systems

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the curvature of quantum wires induces a stationary photovoltage under IR radiation with circular polarization, analyzing effects in ballistic and kinetic regimes for various wire shapes.

Contribution

It reveals that in ballistic regimes, the photovoltage depends on the total curvature angle, while in kinetic regimes, the wire shape influences the effect, studied across three specific geometries.

Findings

Photovoltage depends on total curvature angle in ballistic regime.

Wire shape influences photovoltage when mean free path is finite or large.

Different wire geometries exhibit distinct photovoltage behaviors.

Abstract

Curvature of quantum wire results in intrasubband absorption of IR radiation that induces stationary photovoltage in presence of circular polarization. This effect is studied in ballistic (collisionless) and kinetic regimes. The consideration is concentrated on quantum wires with curved central part. It is shown, that if mean free path is shorter than length of the curved part the photovoltage does not depend on the wire shape, but on the total angle of rotation of wire tangent. It is not the case when mean free path is finite or large. This situation was studied for three specific shapes of wires: "hard angle", "open book" and "$\Omega$-like".