Advances in multi-dimensional coherent spectroscopy of semiconductor nanostructures

• Published in: Advances in physics: X Vol. 2; no. 3; pp. 641 - 674
• Main Authors: Moody, Galan, Cundiff, Steven T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.01.2017; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: 71.35.-y Excitons; 78.47.jh Ultrafast spectroscopy; 78.47.nj Nonlinear optical spectroscopy; 78.67.-n Optical properties of nanostructures; coherence; Condensed matter physics; Coupling (molecular); Emitters; Energy dissipation; Energy transfer; excitons; Many body interactions; Microcavities; Multi-dimensional coherent spectroscopy; Nanostructure; nanostructures; Nonlinear response; Quantum dots; Quantum wells; Semiconductors; Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; 78.47. nj Nonlinear optical spectroscopy; 71.35.-y Excitons; coherence; 78.47.jh Ultrafast spectroscopy; 78.67.-n Optical properties of nanostructures; excitons; nanostructures; semiconductors; Multi-dimensional coherent spectroscopy
• ISSN: 2374-6149; 2374-6149
• DOI: 10.1080/23746149.2017.1346482

Multi-dimensional coherent spectroscopy (MDCS) has become an extremely versatile and sensitive technique for elucidating the structure, composition, and dynamics of condensed matter, atomic, and molecular systems. The appeal of MDCS lies in its ability to resolve both individual-emitter and ensemble-averaged dynamics of optically created excitations in disordered systems. When applied to semiconductors, MDCS enables unambiguous separation of homogeneous and inhomogeneous contributions to the optical linewidth, pinpoints the nature of coupling between resonances, and reveals signatures of many-body interactions. In this review, we discuss the implementation of MDCS to measure the nonlinear optical response of excitonic transitions in semiconductor nanostructures. Capabilities of the technique are illustrated with recent experimental studies that advance our understanding of optical decoherence and dissipation, energy transfer, and many-body phenomena in quantum dots and quantum wells, semiconductor microcavities, layered semiconductors, and photovoltaic materials.