Photocurrent induced by a bicircular light drive in centrosymmetric systems

Abstract

A bicircular light (BCL) consists of left and right circularly polarized lights with different frequencies, and draws a rose-like pattern with a rotational symmetry determined by the ratio of the two frequencies. Here we show that an application of a BCL to centrosymmetric systems allows a photocurrent generation through introduction of an effective polarity to the system. We derive formulas for the BCL-induced photocurrent from a standard perturbation theory, which is then applied to a simple 1D model and 3D Dirac/Weyl semimetals. A nonperturbative effect with strong light intensity is also discussed with the Floquet technique.