Impact of surface charge depletion on the free electron nonlinear response of heavily doped semiconductors

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to control and significantly enhance the nonlinear optical response of heavily doped semiconductors by modulating surface charge density, leading to a substantial increase in third-harmonic generation.

Contribution

It proposes a novel surface charge modulation technique to boost nonlinear optical effects in heavily doped semiconductors using an external static potential.

Findings

Predicted two orders of magnitude increase in third-harmonic generation

Demonstrated control of nonlinear response through surface charge manipulation

Utilized hydrodynamic perturbative approach for analysis

Abstract

We propose surface modulation of the equilibrium charge density as a technique to control and enhance, via an external static potential, the free electron nonlinear response of heavily doped semiconductors. Within a hydrodynamic perturbative approach, we predict a two order of magnitude boost of free electron third-harmonic generation.