Field-induced localization and nonlinear response of a one-band conductor to a periodic electric field

Abstract

The nonlinear nonstationary response of a crystalline conductor to an external space-homogeneous electric field of arbitrary magnitude and arbitrary time dependence is considered. The independent-electron one-band approach in arbitrary dimension with dispersion and lattice structure of general type and no relaxation is used. A classification of oscillatory localized states, induced by time-periodic electric fields is studied. The governing parameters are the magnitude of the constant component of the field and the period of its oscillating part. In the Periodic regime the electron is typically delocalized with the exception of dynamic localization. In the Commensurate case the electron is delocalized only due to long-range transfer to distant neighbours with the analogous localized exception. And, last, in the Incommensurate regime the electron is always localized. Particular examples, illustrating all the localization regimes, are considered. The characteristic features (plateaus and peaks) in the generated harmonics' spectrum are studied.