Light-Driven Attosecond Photoinjection in Germanium

Achieving light control of ultrafast electron dynamics in matter is of utmost importance for technology and research [1]. Few-femtosecond (fs) light pulses can turn semiconductors into conductive states by injecting charge carriers from the valence (VB) to the conduction (CB) band, possibly realizing crucial milestones in quantum electronics such as ultrafast optical switches. Despite recent continuous efforts, light-initiated physical phenomena in realistic and technologically relevant semiconductors are not fully understood.