Parity-odd effects and polarization rotation in graphene

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that parity-odd effects in graphene's conductivity cause polarization rotation of passing electromagnetic waves, with a quantum Faraday effect observable under magnetic fields, exceeding current optical detection limits.

Contribution

It reveals how parity-odd terms in graphene induce polarization rotation and quantifies the quantum Faraday effect arising from Chern-Simons contributions.

Findings

Parity-odd conductivity causes polarization rotation.

Quantum Faraday effect is detectable with current instruments.

Effect magnitude exceeds optical sensitivity limits.

Abstract

We show that the presence of parity-odd terms in the conductivity (or, in other words, in the polarization tensor of Dirac quasiparticles in graphene) leads to rotation of polarization of the electromagnetic waves passing through suspended samples of graphene. Parity-odd Chern-Simons type contributions appear in external magnetic field, giving rise to a quantum Faraday effect (though other sources of parity-odd effects may also be discussed). The estimated order of the effect is well above the sensitivity limits of modern optical instruments.