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Circular photocurrents in centrosymmetric semiconductors with hidden spin polarization

Author

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  • Kexin Wang

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Butian Zhang

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Chengyu Yan

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Luojun Du

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Shun Wang

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

Centrosymmetric materials with site inversion asymmetries possess hidden spin polarization, which remains challenging to be converted into spin currents because the global inversion symmetry is still conserved. This study demonstrates the spin-polarized circular photocurrents in centrosymmetric transition metal dichalcogenide semiconductors at normal incidence without applying electric bias. The global inversion symmetry is broken by using a spatially-varying circularly polarized light beam, which could generate spin gradient owing to the hidden spin polarization. The dependence of the circular photocurrents on electrode configuration, illumination position, and beam spot size indicates an emergence of circulating electric current under spatially inhomogeneous light, which is associated with the deflection of spin-polarized current through the inverse spin Hall effect. The circular photocurrents is subsequently utilized to probe the spin polarization and the inverse spin Hall effect under different excitation wavelengths and temperatures. The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of using centrosymmetric materials with hidden spin polarization and non-vanishing Berry curvature for spintronic device applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Kexin Wang & Butian Zhang & Chengyu Yan & Luojun Du & Shun Wang, 2024. "Circular photocurrents in centrosymmetric semiconductors with hidden spin polarization," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-53425-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53425-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Haowei Xu & Hua Wang & Jian Zhou & Ju Li, 2021. "Pure spin photocurrent in non-centrosymmetric crystals: bulk spin photovoltaic effect," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Fernando de Juan & Adolfo G. Grushin & Takahiro Morimoto & Joel E Moore, 2017. "Quantized circular photogalvanic effect in Weyl semimetals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-7, December.
    3. Jorge Quereda & Talieh S. Ghiasi & Jhih-Shih You & Jeroen Brink & Bart J. Wees & Caspar H. Wal, 2018. "Symmetry regimes for circular photocurrents in monolayer MoSe2," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
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