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Giant Nonreciprocal Band Structure Effect in a Multiferroic Material
Srdjan Stavrić1,2, Giuseppe Cuono2, Baishun Yang2
1University of Belgrade, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences-National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, P. O. Box 522, RS-11001 Belgrade, Serbia.
None:
Multiferroic materials, combining ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism, can host complex band phenomena. Using density functional theory and symmetry analysis, we identify the multiferroic EuO as a prototypical system exhibiting a giant, switchable nonreciprocal band structure effect, that is an asymmetry in electronic bands at special points in the Brillouin zone, enabled by spin-orbit coupling. In particular, our results highlight the crucial role of magnetic symmetries-beyond inversion and time-reversal breaking. Ultimately, the predicted effect leads to a colossal bulk photovoltaic response, with injection currents far exceeding those in known oxides, enabling new cross-functionalities.
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