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1980

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March

  

Reviews of topical problems


The photogalvanic effect in media lacking a center of symmetry

This review presents the fundamental theoretical concepts concerning the photogalvanic effect (PGE)--the phenomenon of appearance of a direct current in a homogeneous medium under uniform illumination. This effect can occur in all media lacking a center of symmetry, in particular, in ferroelectrics, piezoelectrics, gyrotropic crystals, and in gases and liquid possessing natural optical activity. The starting point of a systematic microscopic theory is the asymmetry of the elementary electronic processes--their noninvariance with respect to spatial reflection. Within the framework of the theory, we study the most important mechanisms of the PGE in the regions of impurity, interband, and intraband light absorption. Possible observable manifestations of the PGE are discussed. Theoretical results are compared with experimental data.

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Fulltext is also available at DOI: 10.1070/PU1980v023n03ABEH004703
PACS: 72.40.+w
DOI: 10.1070/PU1980v023n03ABEH004703
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/1980/3/b/
Citation: Belinicher V I, Sturman B I "The photogalvanic effect in media lacking a center of symmetry" Sov. Phys. Usp. 23 199–223 (1980)
BibTex BibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks
%0 Journal Article
%T The photogalvanic effect in media lacking a center of symmetry
%A V. I. Belinicher
%A B. I. Sturman
%I Physics-Uspekhi
%D 1980
%J Phys. Usp.
%V 23
%N 3
%P 199-223
%U https://ufn.ru/en/articles/1980/3/b/
%U https://doi.org/10.1070/PU1980v023n03ABEH004703

Оригинал: Белиничер В И, Стурман Б И «Фотогальванический эффект в средах без центра симметрии» УФН 130 415–458 (1980); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0130.198003b.0415

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