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Circular-polarization-selective perfect reflection from chiral superconductors

Author

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  • Junyeong Ahn

    (Harvard University
    The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Ashvin Vishwanath

    (Harvard University)

Abstract

Integrating mirrors with magnetic components is crucial for constructing chiral optical cavities, which provide tunable platforms for time-reversal-asymmetric light-matter interactions. Here, we introduce single-crystal circular-polarization-selective mirrors based on chiral superconductors, which break time-reversal symmetry themselves, eliminating the need for additional components. We show that a circular-polarization-selective perfect reflection (CSPR) occurs for strong-coupling superconductors in the BCS-BEC crossover regime or beyond if the optical Hall conductivity is significant in the unit of conductivity quantum per unit layer, e2/haz, where az is the lattice constant along the surface normal. While the optical Hall conductivity in chiral superconductors is typically tiny, we classify three routes to obtain a large value. We demonstrate the significant optical Hall conductivity and the resulting CSPR with two examples: (1) superconductivity in doped quantum Hall insulators and (2) chiral pairing that preserves the Bogoliubov Fermi surfaces in the weak-pairing limit. We also discuss the application of our theory to the recently discovered chiral superconducting phase in rhombohedral graphene. Our theory reveals the potential of these classes of chiral superconductors as promising elements for building high-quality-factor terahertz chiral cavities.

Suggested Citation

  • Junyeong Ahn & Ashvin Vishwanath, 2025. "Circular-polarization-selective perfect reflection from chiral superconductors," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-61658-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61658-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Junyeong Ahn & Naoto Nagaosa, 2021. "Theory of optical responses in clean multi-band superconductors," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Tonghang Han & Zhengguang Lu & Zach Hadjri & Lihan Shi & Zhenghan Wu & Wei Xu & Yuxuan Yao & Armel A. Cotten & Omid Sharifi Sedeh & Henok Weldeyesus & Jixiang Yang & Junseok Seo & Shenyong Ye & Muyang, 2025. "Signatures of chiral superconductivity in rhombohedral graphene," Nature, Nature, vol. 643(8072), pages 654-661, July.
    3. Fernando de Juan & Adolfo G. Grushin & Takahiro Morimoto & Joel E Moore, 2017. "Quantized circular photogalvanic effect in Weyl semimetals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-7, December.
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