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Photoinduced Electron Pairing in a Driven Cavity
Hongmin Gao1, Frank Schlawin1, Michele Buzzi2
1Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom.
Physical Review Letters
|August 16, 2020
Summary
We show how laser light can control electron interactions in 2D materials via virtual photon scattering. This method enables tunable attractive or repulsive forces, potentially leading to Cooper instabilities.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Optics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Two-dimensional (2D) materials exhibit unique electronic properties.
- Controlling electron interactions is key to developing novel electronic devices.
- Cavity quantum electrodynamics offers tools to manipulate quantum systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate controllable, long-range electron interactions in 2D materials using laser light.
- To investigate the nature and tunability of these laser-induced interactions.
- To explore potential applications in superconductivity and novel electronic phases.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing virtual scattering of laser photons within an optical cavity.
- Employing two-photon processes to mediate electron interactions.
- Analyzing the effects of laser detuning (red/blue) and intensity on interaction strength.
- Investigating screening effects and suppression of laser-induced heating.
Main Results:
- Achieved controllable, long-range attractive (red detuning) and repulsive (blue detuning) electron interactions.
- Interaction strength is proportional to laser intensity.
- Interactions are poorly screened except at very low frequencies.
- Laser-induced heating is suppressed; coherent interactions dominate.
- Attractive interactions induce Cooper channel instability at temperatures proportional to the square root of driving intensity.
Conclusions:
- This work presents a novel method for engineering electron interactions in 2D materials.
- The technique is applicable to various 2D systems, including bilayer graphene and oxide interfaces.
- The findings open avenues for creating exotic electronic states and potential superconductivity.
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