2023/12/05 by D. Maluski, M. Langenbach, Maluski, D. +19
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Geophysics and Sensor Technology #Magneto-Optical Properties and Applications #Mechanical and Optical Resonators #Strongly Correlated Electrons (cond-mat.str-el)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2312.02733
openalex publication_date 2023/12/05 · openalex created_date 2023/12/08 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
In NiTe3O6 with a chiral crystal structure, we report on a giant natural optical rotation of the lowest-energy magnon. This polarization rotation, as large as 140 deg/mm, corresponds to a path difference between right and left circular polarizations that is comparable to the sample thickness. Natural optical rotation, being a measure of structural chirality, is highly unusual for long-wavelength magnons. The collinear antiferromagnetic order of NiTe3O6 makes this giant effect even more peculiar: Chirality of the crystal structure does not affect the magnetic ground state but is strongly manifested in the lowest excited state. We show that the dynamic magnetoelectric effect, turning this magnon to a magnetic- and electric-dipole active hybrid mode, generates the giant natural optical rotation. In finite magnetic fields, it also leads to a strong optical magnetochiral effect.