Giant Nonlinear Photon-Drag Currents in Moiré Bilayers

Abstract

The bulk photovoltaic effect provides a fundamental pathway for direct light-to-current conversion in quantum materials. However, these nonlinear currents are often strictly constrained or forbidden by crystal symmetries, hindering their exploration in a broader range of materials. While the nonlinear photon-drag effect leverages finite photon momentum to circumvent these constraints, its investigation has been largely confined to toy models, lacking a robust numerical framework for realistic materials. Here, we develop a unified microscopic theory of nonlinear photon-drag currents formulated within a geometric-loop framework, providing both a transparent quantum-geometric interpretation and numerical tractability. Applying this formalism to twisted bilayer graphene (TBG), we demonstrate that a finite, in-plane photon momentum can trigger massive nonlinear responses, rivaling the giant photovoltaic currents reported in typical 2D materials. These currents exhibit high tunability via photon wavevector, twist angle, and light polarization. Our work not only provides a generalized framework for momentum-dependent light-matter interactions but also establishes the nonlinear photon-drag effect as a potent mechanism for unlocking unprecedented optoelectronic functionalities beyond the limitations of the conventional bulk photovoltaic effect.