Measurement of Phonon Angular Momentum via the Einstein-deHaas Effect, Fiber-Optic Interferometry, and a High-Q Oscillator

ORAL

Abstract

We report the design and use of a fiber-optic-interferometer

system to measure the predicted1 macroscopic phonon angular

momentum. An oscillating magnetic field is applied to an

insulating ferromagnet attached to our single-crystal high-Q

double torsional oscillator. By the Einstein-de Haas effect,

oscillator displacement measurements between low

temperatures and those closer to the Debye temperature allow

extraction of the changing phonon angular momentum. A force

change of 5 x 10-8 N was detected between 77 K and 300 K for a

1 mm3 MgZn ferrite sample. Our oscillator, with a resonance at

1.3 kHz, has a thermal noise limit on the order of 10-14 N/√Hz,

allowing the possibility of high-accuracy detection. Competing

effects are being minimized; for example, induced eddy current

momentum can overwhelm the phonon effect for metallic

ferromagnets, and careful temperature-dependent studies are

required for force calibrations.

* Supported by the University of Texas College of Natural SciencesFreshman Research Initiative

Publication: L. Zhang, Q. Niu, Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 085503 (2014)

Presenters

  • Matthew Dwyer

    Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin

Authors

  • Matthew Dwyer

    Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin

  • Devan Shoemaker

    Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Texas at Austin

  • John T Markert

    University of Texas at Austin