Third-order rectification in centrosymmetric metals

TL;DR

This paper reveals that centrosymmetric metals can exhibit significant third-order rectification and photogalvanic effects due to nonlinear optical responses, enabling new optoelectronic functionalities.

Contribution

It uncovers third-order rectification mechanisms in centrosymmetric metals, driven by Fermi surface and disorder effects, with detailed symmetry and band geometric analysis.

Findings

Demonstrates third-order rectification in centrosymmetric metals.

Identifies Berry curvature quadrupole, Fermi surface injection, and shift effects as key mechanisms.

Shows tunability of rectification via light polarization and helicity.

Abstract

Rectification, the conversion of AC fields into DC currents, is crucial for optoelectronic applications such as energy harvesting and wireless communication. However, it is conventionally absent in centrosymmetric systems due to vanishing second-order optical responses. Here, we demonstrate significant rectification and photogalvanic currents in centrosymmetric metals via third-order nonlinear optical responses, driven by finite Fermi surface and disorder-induced contributions. We unveil distinct band geometric mechanisms -- including Berry curvature quadrupole, Fermi surface injection, and shift effects -- and classify all symmetry-allowed rectification responses. Using graphene as an example, we illustrate rectification tunability via light polarization and helicity, enabling rectification engineering in centrosymmetric materials for energy-efficient photodetection and terahertz applications.