Observation of the universal magnetoelectric effect in a 3D topological insulator

V. Dziom, A. Shuvaev, A. Pimenov (), G. V. Astakhov (), C. Ames, K. Bendias, J. Böttcher, G. Tkachov, E. M. Hankiewicz, C. Brüne, H. Buhmann and L. W. Molenkamp
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V. Dziom: Institute of Solid State Physics, Viennta University of Technology
A. Shuvaev: Institute of Solid State Physics, Viennta University of Technology
A. Pimenov: Institute of Solid State Physics, Viennta University of Technology
G. V. Astakhov: Physikalisches Institut (EP6), Universität Würzburg
C. Ames: Physikalisches Institut (EP3), Universität Würzburg
K. Bendias: Physikalisches Institut (EP3), Universität Würzburg
J. Böttcher: Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astronomie, Universität Würzburg
G. Tkachov: Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astronomie, Universität Würzburg
E. M. Hankiewicz: Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astronomie, Universität Würzburg
C. Brüne: Physikalisches Institut (EP3), Universität Würzburg
H. Buhmann: Physikalisches Institut (EP3), Universität Würzburg
L. W. Molenkamp: Physikalisches Institut (EP3), Universität Würzburg

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The electrodynamics of topological insulators (TIs) is described by modified Maxwell’s equations, which contain additional terms that couple an electric field to a magnetization and a magnetic field to a polarization of the medium, such that the coupling coefficient is quantized in odd multiples of α/4π per surface. Here we report on the observation of this so-called topological magnetoelectric effect. We use monochromatic terahertz (THz) spectroscopy of TI structures equipped with a semitransparent gate to selectively address surface states. In high external magnetic fields, we observe a universal Faraday rotation angle equal to the fine structure constant α=e2/2 hc (in SI units) when a linearly polarized THz radiation of a certain frequency passes through the two surfaces of a strained HgTe 3D TI. These experiments give insight into axion electrodynamics of TIs and may potentially be used for a metrological definition of the three basic physical constants.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15197

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