Interaction of THz transients and ultrashort optical pulses in quantum wells: anisotropic wavepackets and optical switches

Summary form only given. In this work we investigate the physics and applications of interplaying optical (interband) and THz (intraband) fields in a quantum well (QW). Our theoretical approach is based on a nonperturbative, numerical solution of the anisotropic semiconductor Bloch equations. We study InGaAs-QWs excited by realistic optical and THz fields with arbitrary polarizations. New and intriguing carrier dynamics emerge, and a series of relative motion electron-hole (e-h) wavepackets (WPs) will be depicted and analysed, as will a new scheme for efficient ultrahigh-speed optical switching in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA).