Photovoltaic effect of light carrying orbital angular momentum on a semiconducting stripe

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a photovoltaic effect in a semiconductor stripe induced by light carrying orbital angular momentum, where electron density is deflected and current is enhanced, controllable by light's orbital momentum.

Contribution

It introduces a novel photovoltaic effect driven by light's orbital angular momentum, showing control over electron flow in semiconductors.

Findings

Electron density deflection depends on light's orbital angular momentum.

Net current density can be increased by the light beam.

The effect can be measured via voltage drop and current increase.

Abstract

We investigate the influence of a light beam carrying an orbital angular momentum on the current density of an electron wave packet in a semiconductor stripe. It is shown that due to the photo-induced torque the electron density can be deflected to one of the stripe sides. The direction of the deflection is controlled by the direction of the light orbital momentum. In addition the net current density can be enhanced. This is a photovoltaic effect that can be registered by measuring the generated voltage drop across the stripe and/or the current increase.