Photocurrent Induced by a Bicircular Light Drive in Centrosymmetric Systems

A bicircular light (BCL) consists of left and right circularly polarized lights with different frequencies, and draws a roselike pattern with a rotational symmetry determined by the ratio of the two frequencies. Here we show that an application of a BCL to centrosymmetric systems allows a photocurrent generation through introduction of an effective polarity to the system. We derive formulas for the BCL-induced photocurrent from a standard perturbation theory, which is then applied to a simple 1D model and 3D Dirac and Weyl semimetals. A nonperturbative effect with strong light intensity is also discussed with the Floquet technique.Received 24 March 2023Accepted 12 July 2023DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.131.096301© 2023 American Physical SocietyPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)Research AreasPhotocurrentPhysical SystemsDirac semimetalTechniquesBloch-Floquet theoremFeynman diagramsInversion symmetryCondensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics