Nonreciprocal Refraction of Light in a Magnetoelectric Material
Abstract
In magnetoelectric materials, where the time-reversal and space-inversion symmetries are simultaneously broken, optical properties can differ between the opposite propagation directions of light. We report on an experimental observation of nonreciprocal trajectory of a light ray in magnetoelectric material CuB2O4 . The light is refracted in different ways between the opposite propagation directions of light. We find a nonreciprocal refraction at the interface between a matter with macroscopic toroidal moment and vacuum. The resultant nonreciprocal deflection of the light is 0.005 deg, which is quantitatively explained using Fermat's principle.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- August 2019
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.077401
- Bibcode:
- 2019PhRvL.123g7401T