Optically Controlled Extraordinary Terahertz Transmission of Bi₂Se₃ Film Modulator

Abstract

Standing on the potential for high-speed modulation and switching in the terahertz (THz) regime, all-optical approaches whose response speeds mainly depend on the lifetime of nonequilibrium free carriers have attracted a tremendous attention. Here, we establish a novel bi-direction THz modulation experiment controlled by femtosecond laser for new functional devices. Specifically, time-resolved transmission measurements are conducted on a series of thin layers Bi₂Se₃ films fabricated straightforwardly on Al₂O₃ substrates, with the pump fluence range from 25 μJ/cm² to 200 μJ/cm² per pulse. After photoexcitation, an ultrafast switching of THz wave with a full recovery time of ~10 ps is observed. For a longer timescale, a photoinduced increase in the transmitted THz amplitude is found in the 8 and 10 quintuple layers (QL) Bi₂Se₃, which shows a thickness-dependent topological phase transition. Additionally, the broadband modulation effect of the 8 QL Bi₂Se₃ film is presented at the time delays of 2.2 ps and 12.5 ps which have a maximum modulation depth of 6.4% and 1.3% under the pump fluence of 200 μJ/cm², respectively. Furthermore, the absorption of α optical phonon at 1.9 THz shows a time-dependent evolution which is consistent with the cooling of lattice temperature.

Keywords

Ultrafast optics / topological insulator / ultrafast photonic devices

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