Nonlinear orbital response across topological phase transition in centrosymmetric materials
arXiv:2101.08277 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.105.L121407
Abstract
Nonlinear optical responses are often used as a probe for studying electronic properties of materials. For topological materials, studies so far focused on the photogalvanic electric current, which requires breaking inversion symmetry. In this work we present a theory of orbital current response in inversion-symmetric topological insulators. We find a symmetry-allowed orbital current response that occurs in centrosymmetric materials under illumination by linearly polarized light. The sign of the dc nonlinear conductivity reflects the index and the conductivity changes sign at the transition between trivial and topological insulator phases. We derive an expression for the nonlinear orbital photocurrent for a general class of models with two doubly degenerate bands, and discuss its specific applications in the cases of the Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang model and the 1T' phase of transition metal dichalcogenides. Experimental setups for observation of the orbital current are also discussed.
12 pages, 3 figures update: typos corrected; references added
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