Coherent electron dynamics in monolayer $\text{MoS}_2$ under ultrashort optical pulse

TL;DR

This paper theoretically studies the coherent electron dynamics in monolayer MoS2 under ultrashort optical pulses, revealing how strong electric fields induce complex dipole moments, asymmetric valley populations, and valley polarization effects.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed theoretical model of ultrafast electron dynamics in MoS2 considering band structure features and strong optical fields, highlighting new insights into valley polarization.

Findings

Asymmetric dipole moments at Dirac points due to band gap effects

Valley polarization induced by ultrashort optical pulses

Complex electron population dynamics in MoS2 under strong fields

Abstract

A theoretical investigation on the coherent Dirac-like quasiparticle dynamics in monolayer $\text{MoS}_2$ under an ultrashort optical pulse irradiation is presented. Particularly, we remain specific features of ML-MDS associated with the mass asymmetry $\alpha$ and topological aspect $\beta$ parameters resulting in Schr$\stackrel{..}{\text{o}}$dinger type wavevector of charge carriers. The direct band gap, spin-resolved valence band spilitting and valley degeneracy breaking due to strong spin-orbit coupling affect ultrafast dynamics of Dirac fermions. Because the duration of the optical pulse is less than the electron scattering time, which is $\sim 10-100\ fs$, the electron dynamics in electric field of the optical pulse is coherent, and consequently, we can describe the coupling of electron with strong electromagnetic field by the time-dependent Schr$\stackrel{..}{\text{o}}$dinger equation. The conduction band and valence band coupling via the strong electric field of pulse ($0.2-2.5 \ V/\text{\AA}$) gives rise to appearance of a dipole moment during the pulse is applied. We find that the dipole is complex, originating from the existence of band gap. We show an asymmetric singularities in Dirac points for absolute of dipole moment. We solve the resulting coupled evolution equations for the expansion coefficient of valence and conduction bands to obtain probability of population transition between valence and conduction bands. The irreversible electron dynamics as a key feature of two-dimensional Dirac matters in interacting with an ultrashort pulse strongly depends on the electronic structure of $\text{MoS}_2$. Furthermore, we present conduction band population distribution with an asymmetric exhibition at the each pair of Dirac points ($K$ and $K'$), when the pulse ends. This leads to valley polarization effect.