Florian Wendler

Carrier multiplication in graphene under Landau quantization

Carrier multiplication is a many-particle process giving rise to the generation of multiple electron-hole pairs. This process holds the potential to increase the power conversion efficiency of photovoltaic devices. In graphene, carrier multiplication has been theoretically predicted and recently experimentally observed. However, due to the absence of a bandgap and competing phonon-induced electron-hole recombination, the extraction of charge carriers remains a substantial challenge. Here we present a new strategy to benefit from the gained charge carriers by introducing a Landau quantization that offers a tunable bandgap. Based on microscopic calculations within the framework of the density matrix formalism, we report a significant carrier multiplication in graphene under Landau quantization. Our calculations reveal a high tunability of the effect via externally accessible pump fluence, temperature and the strength of the magnetic field.

Resonant carrier-phonon scattering in graphene under Landau quantization

We present a microscopic study on the phonon-induced inter-Landau level carrier relaxation in graphene. Our approach is based on the density matrix formalism giving access to time-resolved relaxation dynamics in graphene under Landau quantization. We find a drastically enhanced scattering via optical phonons at specific magnetic fields predicting clear still unobserved signatures in experimental differential transmission spectra.

Ultrafast carrier dynamics in Landau-quantized graphene

Abstract In an external magnetic field, the energy of massless charge carriers in graphene is quantized into non-equidistant degenerate Landau levels including a zero-energy level. This extraordinary electronic dispersion gives rise to a fundamentally new dynamics of optically excited carriers. Here, we review the state of the art of the relaxation dynamics in Landau-quantized graphene focusing on microscopic insights into possible many-particle relaxation channels.We investigate optical excitation into a non equilibrium distribution followed by ultrafast carrier- carrier and carrier-phonon scattering processes. We reveal that surprisingly the Auger scattering dominates the relaxation dynamics in spite of the non-equidistant Landau quantization in graphene. Furthermore, we demonstrate how technologically relevant carrier multiplication can be achieved and discuss the possibility of optical gain in Landau-quantized graphene. The provided microscopic view on elementary many-particle processes can guide future experimental studies aiming at the design of novel graphene-based optoelectronic devices, such as highly efficient photodetectors, solar cells, and spectrally broad Landau level lasers.

Microscopic modeling of tunable graphene-based terahertz Landau-level lasers

In the presence of strong magnetic fields the electronic band structure of graphene drastically changes. The Dirac cone collapses into discrete nonequidistant Landau levels, which can be externally tuned by changing the magnetic field. In contrast to conventional materials, specific Landau levels are selectively addressable using circularly polarized light. Exploiting these unique properties, we propose the design of a tunable laser operating in the technologically promising terahertz spectral range. To uncover the many-particle physics behind the emission of light, we perform a fully quantum mechanical investigation of the nonequilibrium dynamics of electrons, phonons, and photons in optically pumped Landau-quantized graphene embedded in a high-quality optical cavity. The microscopic insights gained allow us to predict optimal experimental conditions to realize a technologically promising terahertz laser.

Carrier Dynamics in Graphene: Ultrafast Many-Particle Phenomena

Graphene is an ideal material to study fundamental Coulomb- and phonon-induced carrier scattering processes. Its remarkable gapless and linear band structure opens up new carrier relaxation channels. In particular, Auger scattering bridging the valence and the conduction band changes the number of charge carriers and gives rise to a significant carrier multiplication - an ultrafast many-particle phenomenon that is promising for the design of highly efficient photodetectors. Furthermore, the vanishing density of states at the Dirac point combined with ultrafast phonon-induced intraband scattering results in an accumulation of carriers and a population inversion suggesting the design of graphene-based terahertz lasers. Here, we review our work on the ultrafast carrier dynamics in graphene and Landau-quantized graphene is presented providing a microscopic view on the appearance of carrier multiplication and population inversion.

Review on carrier multiplication in graphene

The remarkable gapless and linear band structure of graphene opens up new carrier relaxation channels bridging the valence and the conduction band. These Auger scattering processes change the number of charge carriers and can give rise to a significant multiplication of optically excited carriers in graphene. This is an ultrafast many-particle phenomenon that is of great interest both for fundamental many-particle physics as well as technological applications. Here, we review the research on carrier multiplication in graphene and Landau-quantized graphene including theoretical modeling and experimental demonstration. Illustration of the electronic band structure of graphene including Auger scattering channels that can lead to a carrier multiplication (CM). Figure adapted from Ref. [2].

Symmetry-Breaking Supercollisions in Landau-Quantized Graphene

Recent pump-probe experiments performed on graphene in a perpendicular magnetic field have revealed carrier relaxation times ranging from picoseconds to nanoseconds depending on the quality of the sample. To explain this surprising behavior, we propose a novel symmetry-breaking defect-assisted relaxation channel. This enables scattering of electrons with single out-of-plane phonons, which drastically accelerate the carrier scattering time in low-quality samples. The gained insights provide a strategy for tuning the carrier relaxation time in graphene and related materials by orders of magnitude.

Current enhancement due to field-induced dark carrier multiplication in graphene

We present a microscopic study on current generation in graphene in response to an electric field. While scattering is generally considered to reduce the current, we reveal that in graphene Auger processes give rise to a current enhancement via a phenomenon we denote dark carrier multiplication. Based on a microscopic approach, we show that, if other scattering channels are absent, this prevents the carrier distribution to reach a stationary value. Taking into account scattering with phonons a finite current is restored, however its value exceeds the stationary current without scattering.

Efficient Auger scattering in Landau-quantized graphene

We present an analytical expression for the differential transmission of a delta-shaped light field in Landau-quantized graphene. This enables a direct comparison of experimental spectra to theoretical calculations reflecting the carrier dynamics including all relevant scattering channels. In particular, the relation is used to provide evidence for strong Auger scattering in Landau-quantized graphene.

Impact of higher-order coherences on the carrier dynamics in Landau-quantized graphene

We investigate the carrier dynamics in Landau-quantized graphene within the density matrix formalism. In particular, we focus on the carrier-light interaction addressing the impact of higher-order polarizations beyond the optical selection rules. We find that these terms are in general negligible, however, there are regimes, where they even become crucial for the carrier dynamics. Our calculations show that for short excitation pulses, very small Landau level broadenings, and certain configurations of magnetic field strength, Fermi energy, and excitation energy, higher-order polarizations need to be taken into account.