Carrier density dependence of the nonlinear absorption of intense THz radiation in GaAs

We study the carrier density dependence of nonlinear terahertz ( THz) absorption due to field-induced intervalley scattering in photoexcited GaAs using the optical-pump/THz-probe technique. The intervalley scattering in GaAs is strongly dependent on the photo-carrier density. As the carrier density is increased from 1 x 10(17) to 4.7 x 10(17) cm(-3), the nonlinear absorption bleaching increases. However, if the carrier density is increased further above 4.7 x 10(17) cm(-3), the trend reverses and the bleaching is reduced. The initial increase in absorption bleaching is because, unlike low THz field, high THz field experiences intervalley scattering and nonparabolicity of the conduction band. On the other hand, a simple electron transport model shows that the reduction in intervalley scattering is mainly due to the increase in the electron-hole scattering rate with the increase in the carrier density. This increase in the electron-hole scattering rate limits the maximum kinetic energy attainable by the electrons and thus reduces the observed nonlinear absorption. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America