Axion Electrodynamics in Magnetoelectric Media

A. Martín-Ruiz, M. Cambiaso, L. F. Urrutia

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Topologically ordered media demand a new understanding of the emergent properties of quantum matter. This is a fundamental and technological feat. Topological insulators and Weyl semimetals are materials with topological order. Here we will focus on how these materials interact with sources of the electromagnetic field. We start from the effective field theory of Maxwell’s electrodynamics extended by a so-called magnetoelectric term, namely axion electrodynamics and summarize some results we have found exploiting a Green’s function approach to solve for the electromagnetic fields. Signals of the magnetolectric effect are minute compared with other electromagnetic responses, therefore precision measurements are required for its detection. Our formulation can be used for topological insulators and Weyl semimetals with planar, cylindrical and spherical geometries interacting with general charges, currents and boundary conditions. Our formulation is exemplified by: (i) the issue of Casimir effect involving a planar topological insulator, (ii) Vavilov-Cherenkov radiation produced in the forward- and backward-direction of a charged particle traversing a planar interface of two magnetoelectric media and (iii) the electromagnetic fields induced by a static electric charge near the surface of a Weyl semimetal. All three applications can yield observable signals that are within experimental sensitivities.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationTopics in Applied Physics
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages459-492
Number of pages34
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Publication series

NameTopics in Applied Physics
Volume138
ISSN (Print)0303-4216
ISSN (Electronic)1437-0859

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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