Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Visualizing Uniaxial-strain Manipulation of Antiferromagnetic Domains in Fe1+YTe Using a Spin-polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscope
Published on: March 24, 2019
Axion electrodynamics in a topologically trivial antiferromagnet
Abhilash Mishra1, Robin Karothiya2, Syed Qamar Abbas Shah1
1Department of Physics & Astronomy and the Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA.
None:
Axion electrodynamics, originally proposed by Frank Wilczek in the context of high energy physics, can manifest in condensed matter systems as an isotropic linear magnetoelectric (ME) response. Yet, experimental realization of a continuous and purely monopolar ME response has remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate such a response by transforming the topologically trivial antiferromagnet chromia into an isotropic ME medium. Using low-frequency AC ME susceptometry, supported by Monte Carlo simulations, we reveal a monopolar ME response resulting from suppressed quadrupolar contributions. The zero crossing of the temperature-dependent θ at 168 K provides direct evidence that the measured isotropic ME response arises from the axion contribution in chromia. These results establish a condensed-matter platform for axion electrodynamics and open pathways toward ME Hall effects, magnetophotovoltaic responses, and monopolar-based devices.
Related Concept Videos
Potential Due to a Magnetized Object
The vector...
Diamagnetism
Diamagnetism was discovered by Anton Brugmans in 1778 when he observed that bismuth gets repelled by magnetic fields, thus theorizing that diamagnets get repelled by magnets.
Magnetic Vector Potential
Consider an ideal solenoid with n turns per unit length and radius R. If I is the current through the solenoid, the magnetic field inside the solenoid is expressed as the product of vacuum...
Ferromagnetism
Valence Bond Theory
Maxwell's Equation Of Electromagnetism
