All-optical generation of antiferromagnetic magnon currents via the magnon circular photogalvanic effect

We introduce the magnon circular photogalvanic effect enabled by two-magnon Raman scattering. This provides an all-optical pathway to the generation of directed magnon currents with circularly polarized light in honeycomb antiferromagnetic insulators. The effect is the leading order contribution to magnon photocurrent generation via optical fields. Control of the magnon current by the polarization and angle of incidence of the laser is demonstrated. Experimental detection by sizable inverse spin Hall voltages in platinum contacts is proposed.

Automated summary

The study introduces a new method for generating directed magnon currents in honeycomb antiferromagnetic insulators using circularly polarized light, enabled by two-magnon Raman scattering. Experimental results show that the magnon current can be controlled by the polarization and angle of incidence of the laser. Detection through sizable inverse spin Hall voltages in platinum contacts is proposed.