Multidimensional Coherent Spectroscopy of Semiconductors

Optical multidimensional coherent spectroscopy (MDCS) is a nonlinear spectroscopy technique where a material is excited by a series of laser pulses to produce a spectrum as a function of multiple frequencies. The technique's ability to elucidate excited-state structure and interactions has made MDCS a valuable tool in the study of excitons in semiconductors. This review introduces the method and describes progress it has fostered establishing a better understanding of dephasing rates, coherent coupling mechanisms, and many-body interactions pertaining to optically generated electronic excitations in a variety of semiconductor material systems. Emphasis is placed on nanostructured gallium arsenide quantum wells and quantum dots, on quantum dots in other III-V and II-VI semiconductors, and on atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides. Recent technical advances and potential future directions in the field are also discussed.