Novel Quantum Phases in Heavy d- and f-electron Systems Studied Using Nonlinear Optics

Abstract

The strongly spin-orbit coupled Mott insulator Sr2IrO4 exhibits an anomalous optical second harmonic generation (SHG) signal in zero magnetic (H) field1, which was previously interpreted as a signature of a hidden bulk magneto-electric order parameter2. With support from this award, we developed a rotating (H)-field rotational anisotropy (RA) SHG apparatus. Using a multi-technique approach that includes H-dependent RA-SHG, magnetic susceptibility, widefield SHG imaging, and atomic force microscopy, we showed that the anomalous SHG signal in Sr2IrO4 does not arise from hidden1 or laser-induced metastable2 states as previously proposed, but rather from a spin-orbit-enhanced surface response of its bulk antiferromagnetic state [Fig. 1(a)].

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 14, 2023
Accession Number
AD1225278

Entities

People

  • David Hsieh

Organizations

  • California Institute of Technology

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Quantum spin resonance or Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
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  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Graphene
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