Optical waveguide modes in α-RuCl3

ORAL

Abstract

The Kitaev quantum spin liquid (KQSL) is an exotic state of matter predicted to exhibit Majorana fermions and gauge flux excitations. This novel state may be realized in α-RuCl3. Here we report a nano-imaging study of optical waveguide modes in an α-RuCl3 thin film. The waveguide modes that we study are confined electromagnetic waves propagating within the host material. These modes couple to orbital/electronic transitions, magnetic resonances and potentially to itinerant Majorana fermions, thus offering a sensitive probe of different degrees of freedom in the system. We found that the waveguide mode propagation length varies with probe energy, due to absorption by d-d orbital transitions, and reaches a maximum of 12μm at photon energy of 830 meV.

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Presenters

  • Lin Xiong

    Columbia Univ

Authors

  • Lin Xiong

    Columbia Univ

  • Aaron Sternbach

    Columbia Univ, Columbia University, Physics, Columbia University

  • Paige Kelley

    Oak Ridge National Lab, Material Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Sai Sunku

    Physics, Columbia University, Columbia Univ, Columbia University

  • Stephen Nagler

    Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • David Mandrus

    Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, University of Tennessee, Materials Science and Technology, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Material Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oakridge National Laboratory, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Univ of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Dimitri Basov

    Physics, Columbia University, Department of Physics, Columbia University, Columbia Univ, Columbia University