Abstract
We predict that a metal nanofilm subjected to an ultrashort (near-single oscillation) optical pulse of a high field amplitude at normal incidence undergoes an ultrafast (at subcycle times ) transition to a state resembling semimetal. Its reflectivity is greatly reduced, while its transmissivity and the optical field inside the metal are greatly increased. Despite the metal being a centrosymmetric medium, the strong pulse causes net charge transfer in the direction determined by the carrier envelope phase (CEP) of the pulse, which is opposite to the direction of the maximum field.
- Received 8 September 2012
- Revised 26 October 2013
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.88.245438
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