Optical waveguide modes in α-RuCl<sub>3</sub>

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