Magnetophotonic crystals with antiferromagnetic order
arXiv:2607.27064
The paper studies a magnetophotonic crystal made of alternating layers with opposite out-of-plane magnetization, showing that the antiferromagnetic arrangement creates a photonic bandgap, supports topological phases, and enables strong cross‑polarized reflection useful for tunable polarization‑rotating mirrors.
Abstract
We investigate a magnetophotonic crystal formed by the pairs of layers with the opposite out-of-plane magnetization. Despite vanishing total magnetization such antiferromagnetic pattern opens photonic bandgap, gives rise to nontrivial topological phases and enables strong cross-polarized light reflection at frequencies inside the gap which can be harnessed for magnetically tunable polarization-rotating mirrors. We systematically explore optical properties of this structure highlighting fruitful connections to topological photonics and axion electrodynamics.
6 pages, 4 figures main + 19 pages, 10 figures supplemental