Optical Investigations of Symmetry Breaking in the CDW State of ScV₆Sn₆

The rich electronic structure of Kagome metals can give rise to complex emergent phenomena, including charge density waves (CDWs) and time-reversal symmetry breaking (TRSB). ScV₆Sn₆, the only known compound from the vast hexagonal HfFe₆Ge₆ - type “166” family to exhibit a CDW phase transition, has emerged as a promising platform for studying these phenomena, with enhanced tunability compared to the largely studied AV₃Sb₅. Recent studies have shown evidence for TRSB in the CDW phase of ScV₆Sn₆, much like that observed in AV₃Sb₅. We perform polar Kerr effect measurements on ScV₆Sn₆ crystals to test for potential TRSB within the CDW state, along with polarization rotation and electrical transport measurements to further investigate symmetry breaking related to the CDW phase.