Optical magnetoelectric effect in multiferroic materials: evidence for a Lorentz force acting on a ray of light
We theoretically propose that the optical analog of a Lorentz force acting on a ray of light is realized in multiferroic materials such as GaFeO3 showing the magnetoelectric effect. The toroidal moment T --> = sigma(j)r(j) x S(j) plays the role of a "vector potential," while its rotatio...
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| Published in | Physical review letters Vol. 95; no. 23; p. 237402 |
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| Main Authors | , |
| Format | Journal Article |
| Language | English |
| Published |
United States
02.12.2005
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| Online Access | Get more information |
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| Summary: | We theoretically propose that the optical analog of a Lorentz force acting on a ray of light is realized in multiferroic materials such as GaFeO3 showing the magnetoelectric effect. The toroidal moment T --> = sigma(j)r(j) x S(j) plays the role of a "vector potential," while its rotation corresponds to a "magnetic field" for photons. Hence, the light is subject to the Lorentz force when propagating through the domain wall region of the ferromagnetic or ferroelectric order. A realistic estimate on the magnitude of this effect is given. |
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| ISSN: | 0031-9007 |
| DOI: | 10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.237402 |