Observation of the universal magnetoelectric effect in a 3D topological insulator

Nature Communications
V DziomL W Molenkamp

Abstract

The electrodynamics of topological insulators (TIs) is described by modified Maxwell's equations, which contain additional terms that couple an electric field to a magnetization and a magnetic field to a polarization of the medium, such that the coupling coefficient is quantized in odd multiples of α/4π per surface. Here we report on the observation of this so-called topological magnetoelectric effect. We use monochromatic terahertz (THz) spectroscopy of TI structures equipped with a semitransparent gate to selectively address surface states. In high external magnetic fields, we observe a universal Faraday rotation angle equal to the fine structure constant α=e2/2hc (in SI units) when a linearly polarized THz radiation of a certain frequency passes through the two surfaces of a strained HgTe 3D TI. These experiments give insight into axion electrodynamics of TIs and may potentially be used for a metrological definition of the three basic physical constants.

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Citations

Oct 27, 2017·Nature Materials·Jing Wang, Shou-Cheng Zhang
Jan 12, 2019·Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal·L S BovkunM Orlita
Jul 21, 2016·Nature Communications·Ken N OkadaYoshinori Tokura
Oct 11, 2017·Science Advances·Masataka MogiYoshinori Tokura
Aug 4, 2020·Physical Review Letters·Jiabin YuChao-Xing Liu
Jul 1, 2017·Physical Review Letters·S GrauerL W Molenkamp
Oct 22, 2019·Physical Review Letters·David J E MarshMazhar N Ali
May 24, 2019·The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·Xiaodong ZhouYugui Yao
Aug 31, 2021·Physical Review Letters·Song-Bo ZhangBjörn Trauzettel

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