Ultrafast Dynamic Metallization of Dielectric Nanofilms by Strong Single-Cycle Optical Fields

TL;DR

This paper predicts that ultrafast single-cycle optical pulses can induce a temporary metallic state in dielectric nanofilms, causing plasmonic behavior and conduction band population changes within femtoseconds.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of dynamic metallization in dielectric nanofilms driven by strong, ultrafast optical fields, revealing new plasmonic phenomena.

Findings

Ultrafast optical pulses induce plasmonic oscillations.

Significant conduction band population occurs within femtoseconds.

The effect involves both adiabatic and diabatic pathways.

Abstract

We predict a dynamic metallization effect where an ultrafast (single-cycle) optical pulse with a field less or on the order of 1 V/Angstrom causes plasmonic metal-like behavior of a dielectric film with a few-nm thickness. This manifests itself in plasmonic oscillations of polarization and a significant population of the conduction band evolving on a femtosecond time scale. These phenomena are due a combination of both adiabatic (reversible) and diabatic (for practical purposes irreversible) pathways.