Edge Photogalvanic Effect in a Collisionless Electron Gas: Quantum-Mechanical and Kinetic Descriptions

We study the surface photogalvanic effect in a degenerate collisionless electron gas. The surface direct current induced by electromagnetic radiation and flowing along a rigid smooth boundary is calculated for a two-dimensional gas in a semi-infinite quantum well and a three-dimensional gas in a sem...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inRadiophysics and quantum electronics Vol. 67; no. 7; pp. 558 - 571
Main Author Bespalov, A. A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Springer US 01.12.2024
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Astronomy
Astrophysics and Astroparticles
Direct current
Electromagnetic radiation
Electron gas
Hadrons
Half planes
Heavy Ions
Kinetic equations
Lasers
Linear polarization
Mathematical and Computational Physics
Nuclear Physics
Observations and Techniques
Optical Devices
Optics
Photonics
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Polarized radiation
Quantum Optics
Quantum wells
Radiation
Schrodinger equation
Smooth boundaries
Theoretical
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Summary:We study the surface photogalvanic effect in a degenerate collisionless electron gas. The surface direct current induced by electromagnetic radiation and flowing along a rigid smooth boundary is calculated for a two-dimensional gas in a semi-infinite quantum well and a three-dimensional gas in a semi-infinite metal slab. The calculations employ two microscopic approaches, namely, the single-particle Schrödinger equation and the Boltzmann kinetic equation. Both approaches yield identical nonzero values of the net surface (edge) current under elliptically polarized radiation. For a linearly polarized wave, the total surface current is zero, marking a key distinction from cases where electron scattering processes are significant. Spatial profiles of the direct current are calculated, revealing that its density decreases as a power law with distance from the edge of the half-plane or semi-infinite slab containing the gas. The exponent varies with the dimensionality of the system and differs between the two approaches. Additionally, the current density exhibits spatial oscillations with a period given by the product of the Fermi velocity and the oscillation period of the radiation field.
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ISSN:0033-8443
1573-9120
DOI:10.1007/s11141-025-10397-0