Radiation-induced quantum interference in low-dimensional $n$-$p$ junctions

TL;DR

This paper predicts a radiation-induced quantum interference effect in low-dimensional n-p junctions, leading to large photocurrent oscillations due to quantum interference, observable in nanowires, nanotubes, and graphene nanoribbons.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of radiation-induced quantum interference in low-dimensional n-p junctions and analyzes its manifestation as photocurrent oscillations.

Findings

Large oscillations of photocurrent as a function of gate voltage or radiation frequency.

Resonant absorption of photons causes quantum interference between electron paths.

Effect observable in nanowires, carbon nanotubes, and graphene nanoribbons.

Abstract

We predict and analyze {\it radiation-induced quantum interference effect} in low-dimensional $n$-$p$ junctions. This phenomenon manifests itself by large oscillations of the photocurrent as a function of the gate voltage or the frequency of the radiation. The oscillations result from the quantum interference between two electron paths accompanied by resonant absorption of photons. They resemble Ramsey quantum beating and Stueckelberg oscillations well-known in atomic physics. The effect can be observed in one- and two-dimensional $n$-$p$ junctions based on nanowires, carbon nanotubes, monolayer or bilayer graphene nanoribbons.