Observation of nonreciprocal magneto-optical scattering in nonencapsulated few-layered CrI3

TL;DR

This paper reports a novel nonreciprocal magneto-optical scattering effect in few-layer CrI3, demonstrating tunable polarization rotation and polarization degree manipulation via magnetic fields, opening new avenues for 2D ferromagnetic optoelectronics.

Contribution

It uncovers a new nonreciprocal magneto-inelastic light scattering effect in 2D ferromagnetic CrI3, expanding understanding of magneto-optical phenomena in layered materials.

Findings

Polarization rotation between -20° and +60° tunable by magnetic field.

Degree of polarization manipulated between -20% and 85%.

Observation of nonreciprocal magneto-optical scattering in CrI3.

Abstract

Magneto-optical effect refers to a rotation of polarization plane, which has been widely studied in traditional ferromagnetic metal and insulator films and scarcely in two-dimensional layered materials. Here we uncover a new nonreciprocal magneto-inelastic light scattering effect in ferromagnetic few-layer CrI3. We observed a rotation of the polarization plane of inelastic light scattering between -20o and +60o that are tunable by an out-of-plane magnetic field from -2.5 to 2.5 T. It is experimentally observed that the degree of polarization can be magnetically manipulated between -20% and 85%. This work raises a new magneto-optical phenomenon and could create opportunities of applying 2D ferromagnetic materials in Raman lasing, topological photonics, and magneto-optical modulator for information transport and storage.