Abstract

We present latest developments in theory and recent experimental results for a new class of phenomena in condensed matter optics when a strong optical field ~1–3 V/Å reversibly changes the solid within an optical cycle. During a single-oscillation of a strong optical pulse, a dielectric undergoes a reversible transition to a semimetallic state, which follows the instantaneous optical field during time intervals on order of hundred attoseconds. Such a pulse drives ampere-scale currents in dielectrics and controls their properties, including optical absorption and reflection, extreme UV absorption, and generation of high harmonics in a non-perturbative manner on a 100-as temporal scale. Applied to a metal, such a pulse causes an instantaneous and reversible loss of the metallic properties. We will also discuss or latest theoretical results on graphene and silicene, semimetals, in a strong ultrashort pulse field revealing their unique behavior. These are fastest phenomena in optics unfolding within half period of light.

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