Optical non-reciprocity in magnetic structures related to high-Tc superconductors

TL;DR

This paper explores optical non-reciprocity in magnetic structures related to high-Tc superconductors, proposing antiferromagnetic configurations that enable polarization rotation via the magnetoelectric effect, linked to phase transitions in cuprates.

Contribution

It identifies specific antiferromagnetic structures compatible with neutron data that can produce optical polarization rotation through the magnetoelectric effect.

Findings

Antiferromagnetic structures allow polarization rotation.

Magnetoelectric effect enables optical non-reciprocity.

Compatible with neutron scattering evidence.

Abstract

Recent neutron scattering [1,2], and optical measurements [3,4] have detected evidence in underdoped cuprate superconductors for a phase transition near the pseudogap onset temperature T* to a time reversal-breaking state. The neutron scattering indicates antiferromagnetic ordering, while it is often assumed that optical polarization rotation requires at least a weak ferromagnetic component. In this note we identify several antiferromagnetic structures, compatible with neutron scattering data, that allow intrinsic polarization rotation through the magnetoelectic effect.