Orbital magnetoelectric effect in zigzag nanoribbons of p-band systems

TL;DR

This paper investigates how electric fields induce orbital magnetization in zigzag nanoribbons of p-band honeycomb systems, revealing a general orbital magnetoelectric effect that depends on sublattice symmetry breaking.

Contribution

It demonstrates the orbital magnetoelectric effect in zigzag nanoribbons of p-band systems and highlights its potential occurrence in other multi-orbital materials.

Findings

Orbital magnetization can be induced perpendicularly by electric fields.

The effect requires breaking of sublattice symmetry.

The phenomenon is potentially generalizable to other multi-orbital systems.

Abstract

Profiles of the spin and orbital angular momentum accumulations induced by a longitudinally applied electric field are explored in nanoribbons of $p$-band systems with a honeycomb lattice. We show that nanoribbons with zigzag borders can exhibit orbital magnetoelectric effects. More specifically, we have found that purely orbital magnetization oriented perpendicularly to the ribbon may be induced in these systems by means of the external electric field, when sublattice symmetry is broken. The effect is rather general and may occur in other multi-orbital materials.