Broken symmetries associated with a Kagome chiral charge order

Zi-Jia Cheng, Md Shafayat Hossain (), Qi Zhang, Sen Shao, Jinjin Liu, Yilin Zhao, Mohammad Yahyavi, Yu-Xiao Jiang, Jia-Xin Yin, Xian Yang, Yongkai Li, Tyler A. Cochran, Maksim Litskevich, Byunghoon Kim, Junyi Zhang, Yugui Yao, Luis Balicas, Zhiwei Wang (), Guoqing Chang () and M. Zahid Hasan ()
Additional contact information
Zi-Jia Cheng: Princeton University
Md Shafayat Hossain: Princeton University
Qi Zhang: Princeton University
Sen Shao: 21 Nanyang Link
Jinjin Liu: Beijing Institute of Technology
Yilin Zhao: 21 Nanyang Link
Mohammad Yahyavi: 21 Nanyang Link
Yu-Xiao Jiang: Princeton University
Jia-Xin Yin: Princeton University
Xian Yang: Princeton University
Yongkai Li: Beijing Institute of Technology
Tyler A. Cochran: Princeton University
Maksim Litskevich: Princeton University
Byunghoon Kim: Princeton University
Junyi Zhang: Johns Hopkins University
Yugui Yao: Beijing Institute of Technology
Luis Balicas: National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Zhiwei Wang: Beijing Institute of Technology
Guoqing Chang: 21 Nanyang Link
M. Zahid Hasan: Princeton University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Chirality, or handedness, is ubiquitous in science, from cell biology to physics, and in condensed matter can underlie exotic phases such as chiral charge density waves and chiral superconductivity. However, detecting subtle broken symmetries that define such states is challenging, leading to debate and controversy. Here, using second-order optical response, we reveal the broken symmetries of a chiral charge density wave in the Kagome lattice KV3Sb5. Polarization-dependent mid-infrared photocurrent microscopy uncovers a longitudinal, helicity-dependent photocurrent associated with the charge order, indicating broken inversion and mirror symmetries. These findings, supported by theoretical analysis, directly establish the intrinsic chiral nature of the ordered state. Moreover, the absence of a circular photogalvanic effect perpendicular to the incident light imposes stringent constraints on the point-group symmetries. Our study not only visualizes the chiral nature of the Kagome charge order, but also highlights the nonlinear photogalvanic effect as a sensitive probe for detecting subtle symmetry breakings.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58262-y

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