Magnetically induced Circular Photogalvanic Effect in Symmetric Two-dimensional Materials

Abstract

Photocurrents that depend on the helicity of the incident light can be generated in both bulk and low-dimensional materials lacking inversion symmetry, known as the circular photogalvanic effect (CPGE). We propose that by employing a magnetic effect, the limitation on the inversion symmetry broken materials can be overcome, such that helicity-dependent photocurrent can be generated in a symmetric material, i.e., a magneto-circular photogalvanic effect (MCPGE). As a proof of principle, we elucidate the mechanism of such an MCPGE through an effective Hamiltonian of a monolayer SbH on a magnetic substrate with an adjustable magnetization. Moreover, the associated response in optical absorption is analyzed, both single-particle and excitonic, through a Bethe-Salpeter equation to describe the Coulomb interaction in excitons. Our result broadens the mechanism of CPGE and opens new opportunities for optoelectronic devices.

7 pages, 4 figures