Drag current due to multiphoton intraband absorption of an electromagnetic wave in a superlattice

Abstract

We consider the effect of electron drag by photons due to intraband absorption of an electromagnetic wave in a semiconductor superlattice. It is shown that the multiphoton absorption must be taken into account if the condition eEd≥―ω is valid. As the field increases, the current oscillates. In this case, the quasi-classical approximation results in saturation of the drag current with increasing amplitude of the electric field, while within the framework of the quantum approach, the increase in current is replaced by its decrease.