학술논문

Revealing the frequency-dependent oscillations in the nonlinear terahertz response induced by the Josephson current.
Document Type
Article
Source
National Science Review. Nov2023, Vol. 10 Issue 11, p1-8. 8p.
Subject
*NONLINEAR oscillations
*HIGH temperature superconductors
*TERAHERTZ spectroscopy
*SUBMILLIMETER waves
*OPTICAL reflection
Language
ISSN
2095-5138
Abstract
Nonlinear responses of superconductors to intense terahertz radiation has been an active research frontier. Using terahertz pump-terahertz probe spectroscopy, we investigate the c -axis nonlinear optical response of a high-temperature superconducting cuprate. After excitation by a single-cycle terahertz pump pulse, the reflectivity of the probe pulse oscillates as the pump-probe delay is varied. Interestingly, the oscillatory central frequency scales linearly with the probe frequency, a fact widely overlooked in pump-probe experiments. By theoretically solving the nonlinear optical reflection problem on the interface, we show that our observation is well explained by the Josephson-type third-order nonlinear electrodynamics, together with the emission coefficient from inside the material into free space. The latter results in a strong enhancement of the emitted signal whose physical frequency is around the Josephson plasma edge. Our result offers a benchmark for and new insights into strong-field terahertz spectroscopy of related quantum materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]