Light-Field-Controlled PHz Currents in Metals

Light-Field-Controlled PHz Currents in Metals | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Light-Field-Controlled PHz Currents in Metals Beatrix Fehér, Václav Hanus, Weiwei Li, Zsuzsanna Pápa, Judit Budai, and 5 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4123180/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Oriented electric currents in metals are routinely driven by applying an external electric potential. Although the response of electrons to the external electric fields occurs within attoseconds, conventional electronics do not utilize this speed potential. Ultrafast laser technology, which delivers laser pulses with controlled shapes of electric fields that switch direction at PHz frequencies, opens new perspectives for driving electric currents in metals. Here, we demonstrate an interaction of light with nm-thick metallic layers, that leads to a generation of PHz-bandwidth electric currents, providing evidence that currents in metals can be optically controlled. We show that the implantation of metallic layers into a dielectric matrix leads up to 40 times increase of the sensitivity in contrast to bare dielectric, decreasing the intensity threshold for the lightwave electronics. We establish a link between electronic and optical properties by identifying an empirical relationship between the index of nonlinear susceptibility X (3) and the generated current. We provide an intraband-motion model elucidating the origin of the measured current. Physical sciences/Physics/Electronics, photonics and device physics/Photonic devices Physical sciences/Optics and photonics/Optical materials and structures/Metamaterials Physical sciences/Physics/Optical physics/Nonlinear optics Physical sciences/Physics/Optical physics/Ultrafast photonics Physical sciences/Optics and photonics/Optical physics/High-harmonic generation Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files ManuscriptNaturestyleSupplementaryv4.pdf Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4123180","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":288780422,"identity":"2cd37ea8-f286-4b14-bf20-7909ab9c4b4d","order_by":0,"name":"Beatrix 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