Photoinduced current in molecular conduction junctions with semiconductor contacts

Boris D. Fainberg, Tamar Seideman

Published 2012-01-23, updated 2012-09-26Version 2

We propose a new approach to coherent control of transport via molecular junctions, which bypasses several of the hurdles to experimental realization of optically manipulated nanoelectronics noted in the previous literature. The method is based on the ap-plication of intrinsic semiconductor contacts and optical frequencies below the semiconductor bandgap. It relies on a simple and general concept, namely the controllable photonic replication of molecular levels through the dipole driving the molecular bridge by an electromagnetic field. We predict the effect of coherent destruction of induced tunneling that extends the certain effect of coherent destruction of tunneling. Our results illustrate the potential of semiconductor contacts in coherent control of photocurrent.