Harnessing the unique features of topological materials for the development of a new generation of topological based devices is a challenge of paramount importance. Using Floquet scattering theory combined with atomistic models we study the interplay between laser illumination, spin and topology in a two-dimensional material with spin-orbit coupling. Starting from a topological phase, we show how laser illumination can selectively disrupt the topological edge states depending on their spin. This is manifested by the generation of pure spin currents and spin-polarized charge photocurrents under linearly and circularly polarized laser-illumination, respectively. Our results open a path for the generation and control of spin-polarized photocurrents.
@article{arxiv.2010.11883,
title = {Spin-polarized tunable photocurrents},
author = {Matías Berdakin and Esteban A. Rodríguez-Mena and L. E. F. Foa Torres},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2010.11883},
year = {2021}
}