Photon assisted processes: Probability amplitudes for the absorption and emission of photons and dc-photocurrents

Abstract

In this paper one deals with the derivation of probability amplitudes characterizing the photon assisted injection of electrons in a two-terminal quantum conductor. For this purpose one accounts for spatially constant but time dependent periodic voltages applied on an Ohmic contact. Resorting to the discrete Fourier transform provides the probability amplitudes for the emission and absorption of photons in terms of squared Bessel functions of the first kind and integer order. Several kinds of ac-pulses like sinusoidal and dc+sinusoidal are assumed. Mean square values concerning photon numbers have been discussed in some more detail. Time averages of squared time dependent classical currents and leading corrections to the rescaled dc-photocurrent have also been accounted for.