Axionic surface wave in dynamical axion insulators

TL;DR

This paper predicts and analyzes a new type of surface polariton, the surface axion polariton, in dynamical axion insulators, and proposes an experimental detection method, expanding understanding of axion electrodynamics in condensed matter.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of surface axion polaritons in dynamical axion insulators and suggests an experimental setup for their detection.

Findings

Existence of surface axion polaritons at the interface of dynamical axion insulators and dielectrics.

Doping dynamical axion insulators to be metallic leads to mixed axion plasmon polaritons.

Proposed Kretschmann-Raether configuration for experimental observation.

Abstract

The electromagnetic response of three-dimensional topological insulators can be described by an effective axion action with a quantized axion field. Once both time-reversal and inversion symmetries are broken, for example, in antiferromagnetic topological insulators, the axion field becomes dynamical along with magnetic fluctuations. The dynamical axion field, when coupled to electromagnetic fields, can lead to rich physical phenomena. Here, based on the modified Maxwell's equations, we reveal the existence of an exotic type of polariton excitation, termed a surface axion polariton, which propagates in the interface between a dynamical axion insulator and a dielectric. When doping the dynamical axion insulator to be metallic, the coexistence of axion-photon coupling and plasmon-photon coupling will further generate a mixed surface axion plasmon polariton. We also propose a Kretschmann-Raether configuration to experimentally detect the surface axion polariton. Our result provides an alternative way to study the axion electrodynamics in condensed matter physics.