Macroscopic Polarization and Magnetization from Cavity Vacuum Fluctuations

arXiv (Cornell University)

Abstract

Cavity light-matter interaction has recently emerged as a new avenue for manipulating material properties without driving fields. Here, we demonstrate that cavity vacuum fluctuations can induce macroscopic polarization (magnetization), even in materials that lack spontaneous polarization (net magnetization) in free space. Starting from the effective photon-free quantum-electrodynamics Hamiltonian, we identify all crystallographic (magnetic) point groups that allow such cavity-induced responses. We derive the form of the corresponding response tensors based on symmetry analysis, whose elements can be obtained by quantum electrodynamical density functional theory (QEDFT) calculations. As representative examples, we show that the cavity-induced polarization in $α$-quartz can be continuously controlled by rotating the cavity. For antiferromagnetic Mn$_3$Sn, we demonstrate that cavity-induced symmetry breaking generates an out-of-plane magnetization, accompanied by an anomalous Hall conductivity component that is forbidden outside the cavity. Our work establishes symmetry as a guiding principle for cavity materials engineering and provides a route for controlling polarization and magnetization through quantum vacuum fluctuations, i.e., cavity materials engineering.

Authors 6

1. Jingkai Quan

   Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter

   Affiliation as printed

   Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter , Luruper Chaussee 149 , 22761 Hamburg , Germany

2. Chongxiao Fan Aachen Institute for Theory of Statistical Physics

   Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Theory of Statistical Physics , RWTH Aachen University , and

   Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter , Luruper Chaussee 149 , 22761 Hamburg , Germany

3. Benshu Fan

   Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter

   Affiliation as printed

   Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter , Luruper Chaussee 149 , 22761 Hamburg , Germany

4. I-Te Lu
5. Dante Marvin Kennes Aachen Institute for Theory of Statistical Physics

   Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Theory of Statistical Physics , RWTH Aachen University , and

   Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter , Luruper Chaussee 149 , 22761 Hamburg , Germany

6. A Valle Rubio

   Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter · Flatiron Health (United States)

   Affiliation as printed

   Initiative for Computational Catalysis , The Flatiron Institute ,

   Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter , Luruper Chaussee 149 , 22761 Hamburg , Germany