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Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Harmonic Nanoparticles for Regenerative Research
Published on: May 1, 2014
High-Harmonic Generation in Solids with and without Topological Edge States
Dieter Bauer1, Kenneth K Hansen2
1Institute of Physics, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany.
Abstract:
High-harmonic generation in the two topological phases of a finite, one-dimensional, periodic structure is investigated using a self-consistent time-dependent density functional theory approach. For harmonic photon energies smaller than the band gap, the harmonic yield is found to differ by up to 14 orders of magnitude for the two topological phases. This giant topological effect is explained by the degree of destructive interference in the harmonic emission of all valence-band (and edge-state) electrons, which strongly depends on whether or not topological edge states are present. The combination of strong-field laser physics with topological condensed matter opens up new possibilities to electronically control strong-field-based light or particle sources or-conversely-to steer by all optical means topological electronics.
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