Giant linearly-polarized photogalvanic effect and second harmonic generation in two-dimensional axion insulators

Abstract

The second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) processes, such as the photogalvanic effect and second-order harmonic generation (SHG), play crucial roles in probing and controlling light-matter interactions for energy and device applications. To date, most studies of second-order NLO processes focus on materials with broken spatial inversion symmetry, such as proper ferroelectrics and noncentrosymmetric Weyl semimetals. Nevertheless, inversion symmetry of Shubnikov groups can be broken via spin-ordering in centrosymmetric crystals. Unfortunately, these materials are less common, and their NLO responses are usually weak. Combining quantum perturbation theory and first-principles simulations, we predict a giant injection-current photogalvanic effect and SHG in a family of emerging axion insulators, the even septuple layers of MnBi2Te4 (MBT) materials that exhibit the zero-plateau quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect. Their amplitudes of injection current and SHG are about two orders of magnitude larger than those of widely used ferroelectrics, such as BiFeO3 and LiNbO3. Moreover, unlike the usual injection current observed under circularly-polarized light, the injection photocurrent of MBTs only emerges under linearly polarized light, making it convenient for device applications. These unique characters are from a combination effect of parity-time symmetry, three-fold rotation symmetry, and significant spin-orbit coupling. These enhanced NLO effects are valuable for characterizing subtle topological orders in QAH systems and also shed light on novel infrared photo-detector and photovoltaic applications based on magnetic topological materials.

arXiv comment18 pages, 4 figures, 1 table

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• First Principles Calculation of Ballistic Current from Electron-Hole Interaction
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• Crystal Symmetry Selected Pure Spin Photocurrent in Altermagnetic Insulators
• Anomalous Second Harmonic Generation from Atomically Thin MnBi2Te4
• Abnormal Surface Nonlinear Optical Responses in Topological Materials
• Surface photogalvanic effect in Weyl semimetals
• Bulk Photovoltaic Effects in Helimagnets
• TensorSymmetry: a package to get symmetry-adapted tensors disentangling spin-orbit coupling effect and establishing analytical relationship with magnetic order
• Magnetism-induced second-order nonlinear optical responses in multiferroic BiFeO${}_3$
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• Manipulating Photogalvanic Effects in Two-Dimensional Multiferroic Breathing Kagome Materials
• Efficient Quantum Transduction Using Anti-Ferromagnetic Topological Insulators
• Universal Role of Combined Symmetry for the Protection of the Dirac Cone in Antiferromagnetic Topological Insulators
• Vertex correction for the linear and nonlinear optical responses in superconductors: multiband effect and topological superconductivity
• Reversing Neel Vector in PT-Antiferromagnets by Nonreciprocal Light Scattering
• Nonlinear frequency-asymmetric optical response in chiral systems
• Intrinsic efficiency of injection photocurrents in magnetic materials