Quantum Interference Control of Localized Carrier Distributions in the Brillouin Zone

Using transition-metal dichalcogenides as an example, we show that the quantum interference arising in two- and three-photon absorption processes can lead to controllable, highly localized carrier distributions in the Brillouin zone. We contrast this with the previously studied one- and two-photon absorption, and find qualitatively different features, including changes in the relevance of interband and intraband processes according to the excitation energy. Thus, the distribution of excitations arising under certain circumstances in two- and three-photon absorption can facilitate the study of far-from-equilibrium states that are initially well localized in crystal momentum space.