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High-energy nonreciprocal directional dichroism in a chiral magnet

ORAL

Abstract

Nonreciprocal directional dichroism is an unusual light-matter interaction that gives rise to diode-like behavior in low symmetry materials. The chiral varieties are particularly scarce due to the requirements for strong spin-orbit coupling, broken time reversal symmetry, and a chiral axis. We bring together magneto-optical spectroscopy and first principles calculations to reveal high energy, broad band nonreciprocal directional dichroism in Ni3TeO6with special focus on behavior in the metamagnetic phase above 52 T. In addition to demonstrating this effect in the magnetochiral configuration, we explore the transverse magnetochiral orientation in which applied field and light propagation are orthogonal to the chiral axis and by so doing, uncover an additional configuration with a nonreciprocal response in the visible part of the spectrum. In a significant conceptual advance, we use first principles methods to analyze how the Ni2+ d-to-d on-site excitations develop magnetoelectric character and present a microscopic model that unlocks the door to theory-driven discovery of chiral magnets with nonreciprocal properties.

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Presenters

  • Janice Lynn Musfeldt

    University of Tennessee, Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA

Authors

  • Michael Yokosuk

    University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Heung-Sik Kim

    Department of Physics, Kangwon National University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University; Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea, Physics, Kangwon National University

  • Kendall Hughey

    Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Jaewook Kim

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Center for Emergent Materials, Rutgers University, Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA, Rutgers University, Physics, Rutgers University

  • Andreas V. Stier

    Walter Schottky Institute, Technical University of Munich, NHMFL - Los Alamos, Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Kenneth O'Neal

    University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Junjie Yang

    Physics, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Department of Physics, New Jersey Institute of Technology, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Physics, Central Michigan University, Central Michigan University

  • Scott Crooker

    Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos Natl Lab, NHMFL - Los Alamos, National High magnetic Field Laboratory, Los Alamos

  • Kristjan Haule

    Department of Physics & Astronomy, Rutgers University, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Rutgers Univeristy, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Rutgers University, Physics, Rutgers University, Physics & Astronomy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA 08854

  • Sang-Wook Cheong

    Rutgers University, R-CEM & Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA, Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials, Rutgers University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Center for Emergent Materials, Rutgers University; Max Planck POSTECH/Korea Research Initiative, Pohang University of Science and Technol, Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Rutgers University, Physics and Astronomy, and Laboratory for Pohang Emergent Materials and Max Plank POSTECH Center for Complex Phase Materials, Pohang University of Science, Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA, Rutgers University, Piscataway, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Department of Physics, Rutgers University, Physics & Astronomy, Rutgers University, Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Physics, Rutgers University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA

  • David Vanderbilt

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Piscataway, NJ 08854, Rutgers University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Rutgers University, Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States, Rutgers University, Physics, Rutgers University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Rutgers University, New Brunswick

  • Janice Lynn Musfeldt

    University of Tennessee, Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996, USA