Nonlinear optical conductivity of $U(1)$ spin liquids with large spinon Fermi surfaces

TL;DR

This paper investigates the nonlinear optical conductivity of $U(1)$ spin liquids with large spinon Fermi surfaces, deriving the third-order nonlinear current response and revealing in-gap power-law behavior and third harmonic generation.

Contribution

It provides the first derivation of the third-order nonlinear current response in $U(1)$ spin liquids with large spinon Fermi surfaces.

Findings

In-gap power-law nonlinear response $ ext{~}\omega^{\eta}$ at low frequencies.

Third harmonic generation of electromagnetic waves within the spin liquids.

Nonlinear susceptibility influences electromagnetic wave propagation.

Abstract

In this paper we study the nonlinear current response of $U(1)$ spin liquids with large spinon Fermi surfaces under the perturbation of a time-dependent ac electric field $\mathbf{E}(t)$ within the framework of an effective $U(1)$ gauge theory. In particular, the third-order nonlinear current response to ac electric fields is derived. We show that as in the case of linear current response, an in-gap power-law ($\sim\omega^{\eta}$) response is found for the nonlinear current at low frequency. The nonlinear susceptibility may also induce through process of third harmonic generation propagating EM wave with frequency $3\omega$ inside the spin liquids.