Topological frequency conversion in Weyl semimetals

Abstract

We theoretically predict a new working principle for optical amplification, based on Weyl semimetals: when a Weyl semimetal is suitably irradiated at two frequencies, electrons close to the Weyl points convert energy between the frequencies through the mechanism of topological frequency conversion from [Martin et al, PRX 7 041008 (2017)]. Each electron converts energy at a quantized rate given by an integer multiple of Planck's constant multiplied by the product of the two frequencies. In simulations, we show that optimal, but feasible band structures can support topological frequency conversion in the "THz gap" at intensities down to $2\mathrm{W}/\mathrm{m}{\mathrm{m}}^2$; the gain from the effect can exceed the dissipative loss when the frequencies are larger than the relaxation time of the system. Topological frequency conversion provides a new paradigm for optical amplification, and further extends Weyl semimetals' promise for technological applications.

Added new section on phase-array amplifier and plasmon-enhanced frequency conversion

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Cited by in corpus (11)

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• Experimental observation of a time rondeau crystal: Temporal Disorder in Spatiotemporal Order
• Topological frequency conversion in rhombohedral multilayer graphene
• Terahertz third-harmonic generation of lightwave driven Weyl fermions far from equilibrium
• Dissipative frequency converter: from Lindblad dynamics to non-Hermitian topology
• Engineering Hierarchical Symmetries
• Bosonic Entanglement and Quantum Sensing from Energy Transfer in two-tone Floquet Systems
• A strong-driving toolkit for topological Floquet energy pumps with superconducting circuits
• Topological energy pumping in a quasi-periodically driven four-level system