Axion-matter coupling in multiferroics

Henrik S. Røising; Benjo Fraser; Sinéad M. Griffin; Sumanta Bandyopadhyay; Aditi Mahabir; Sang-Wook Cheong; Alexander V. Balatsky

doi:10.1103/physrevresearch.3.033236

arXiv · 2102.10171

Axion-matter coupling in multiferroics

Henrik S. Røising·Benjo Fraser·Sinéad M. Griffin·Sumanta Bandyopadhyay·Aditi Mahabir·Sang-Wook Cheong·Alexander V. Balatsky

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Abstract

Multiferroics (MFs) are materials with two or more ferroic orders, like spontaneous ferroelectric and ferromagnetic polarizations. Such materials can exhibit a magnetoelectric effect whereby magnetic and ferroelectric polarizations couple linearly, reminiscent of, but not identical to the electromagnetic $\boldsymbol{E}\cdot \boldsymbol{B}$ axion coupling. Here we point out a possible mechanism in which an external dark matter axion field couples linearly to ferroic orders in these materials without external applied fields. We find the magnetic response to be linear in the axion-electron coupling. At temperatures close to the ferromagnetic transition fluctuations can lead to an enhancement of the axion-induced magnetic response. Relevant material candidates such as the Lu-Sc hexaferrite family are discussed.

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hep-ph cond-mat.mes-hall cond-mat.mtrl-sci cond-mat.str-el

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Henrik S. Røising, Benjo Fraser, Sinéad M. Griffin, Sumanta Bandyopadhyay, Aditi Mahabir, Sang-Wook Cheong, Alexander V. Balatsky. 2021-02-19. Axion-matter coupling in multiferroics. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevresearch.3.033236

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