KEYWORDS: Superlattices, Harmonic generation, Semiconductors, Solids, Analog electronics, Chemical species, Quantum dots, Terahertz radiation, Molecules, Control systems
We study the harmonic generation spectrum in a semiconductor superlattice (a quantum-dot array) at slow
relaxation. The effect of single-mode response in a meander electric field is demonstrated: for certain values
of field parameters the extremely wide discrete output spectrum with slowly decaying tails (multi-harmonic
generation) shrinks to one single harmonic (single-harmonic generation). Similarly, the effect is manifested in
the continuous transition spectrum by diminishing the divergencies (peaks) at all odd harmonics, but one. This
effect has no analogs in smooth harmonic fields. Substantial control over the spectrum is demonstrated.
We consider a d-dimensional conductor (a superlattice) within the independent-electron one-band approach
taking into account slow relaxation processes. Its nonperturbative response to time-periodic electric fields
is studied in the nearly coherent regimes: a) dynamic (short-time) and b) kinetic (long-time). We provide a
classification and analysis of field-induced dynamic localization and response through the dc/ac current and mean
square displacement of electrons. We demonstrate that the overall localization increases in passing from the
periodic regime through the commensurate to the incommensurate one (governed by the relation of field period
and Bloch frequency) both in the dynamic and kinetic cases. Simultaneously, exceptional localization (for some
particular values of field parameters or symmetries) typically retains its order in the small relaxation rate, but on
the background of increasing overall localization becomes less pronounced, both in dynamic and kinetic regimes.
In the dynamic regime exceptional localization is manifested through diffusion and dc response, in the kinetic - through diffusion and ac response. The commensurate case with long-range-overlap qualitatively resembles the periodic one; within nearest-neighbor approximation the commensurate regime becomes qualitatively analogous to the incommensurate one. We also obtain explicit analytic solutions for the dynamic and kinetic harmonic generation spectra. We demonstrate that in strong and smooth fields the harmonic spectrum has a plateau-like shape. In the kinetic regime all the harmonics vanish under "exceptional" localization, whereas in the dynamic regime there is no such effect. In a strong dc field there is an effect of weak ac harmonics amplification. Coherent control of induced localization and harmonic generation is discussed.
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