Controllable nonreciprocal optical response and handedness-switching in magnetized spin-orbit coupled graphene

Starting from a low-energy effective Hamiltonian model, we theoretically calculate the dynamical optical conductivity and permittivity tensor of a magnetized graphene layer with Rashba spin-orbit coupling (SOC). Our results reveal a transverse Hall conductivity correlated with nonreciprocal longitudinal conductivity. Further analysis illustrates that for intermediate magnetization strengths, the relative magnitudes of the magnetization and SOC can be identified experimentally by two well-separated peaks in the dynamical optical response (both the longitudinal and transverse components) as a function of photon frequency. Moreover, the frequency-dependent permittivity tensor is obtained for a wide range of chemical potentials and magnetization strengths. Employing experimentally realistic parameter values, we calculate the circular dichroism of a representative device consisting of magnetized spin-orbit coupled graphene and a dielectric insulator layer, backed by a metallic plate. The results reveal that this device has different relative absorptivities for right-handed and left-handed circularly polarized electromagnetic waves. It is found that the magnetized spin-orbit coupled graphene supports strong handedness-switchings, effectively controlled by varying the chemical potential and magnetization strength with respect to the SOC strength.

Automated summary

From a low-energy effective Hamiltonian model, we calculated the dynamical optical conductivity and permittivity tensor of a magnetized graphene layer with Rashba spin-orbit coupling. Our results reveal that the magnetization and SOC can be identified experimentally by two well-separated peaks in the dynamical optical response. Furthermore, our calculations show that the magnetized spin-orbit coupled graphene supports strong handedness-switchings.