Strain control of mid-IR spectroscopic nonlinear photocurrents in PtSe$_2$

Abstract: Semi-metallic noble-metal dichalcogenides are promising materials for infrared optoelectronics, yet the origin and tunability of their nonlinear optical responses remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate in-situ mechanical control of photon-drag photocurrents in polycrystalline PtSe$_2$ thin films grown on flexible polyimide substrates. Using polarization-resolved mid-infrared photocurrent spectroscopy under uniaxial tensile strain, we observe pronounced strain-dependent changes in resistivity, photoconductivity, and helicity-dependent nonlinear photocurrents. The spectral response is consistent with optical excitations across the spin-orbit-coupling-induced (SOC) band gap near the K point. We develop a theoretical framework attributing the photocurrent primarily to photon-drag induced by photon-momentum symmetry breaking. Strain modifies its magnitude and polarization dependence through deformation potentials that tune the SOC-induced band gap. These results establish mechanical strain as a route toward reconfigurable infrared polarization detection.