2024/12/11 by Gucci, Francesco, Molinero, Eduardo B., Russo, Mattia +8
#FOS: Physical sciences #Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall)
paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2412.08318
Information processing currently reaches speeds as high as 800 GHz. However, the underlying transistor technology is quickly approaching its fundamental limits and further progress requires a disruptive approach. One such path is to manipulate quantum properties of solids, such as the valley degree of freedom, with ultrashort controlled lightwaves. Here we employ a sequence of few-optical-cycle visible pulses controlled with attosecond precision to excite and switch the valley pseudospin in a 2D semiconductor. We show that a pair of pulses separated in time with linear orthogonal polarizations can induce a valley-selective population. Additionally, exploiting a four-pump excitation protocol, we perform logic operations such as valley de-excitation and re-excitation at room temperature at rates as high as ~10 THz.