Circular-polarization-selective perfect reflection from chiral superconductors

Integrating mirrors with magnetic components is crucial for constructing chiral optical cavities, which provide tunable platforms for time-reversal-asymmetric light-matter interactions. Here, we introduce single-crystal circular-polarization-selective mirrors based on chiral superconductors, which break time-reversal symmetry themselves, eliminating the need for additional components. We show that a circular-polarization-selective perfect reflection (CSPR) occurs for strong-coupling superconductors in the BCS-BEC crossover regime or beyond if the optical Hall conductivity is significant in the unit of conductivity quantum per unit layer, e<sup>2</sup>/ha<sub>z</sub>, where a<sub>z</sub> is the lattice constant along the surface normal. While the optical Hall conductivity in chiral superconductors is typically tiny, we classify three routes to obtain a large value. We demonstrate the significant optical Hall conductivity and the resulting CSPR with two examples: (1) superconductivity in doped quantum Hall insulators and (2) chiral pairing that preserves the Bogoliubov Fermi surfaces in the weak-pairing limit. We also discuss the application of our theory to the recently discovered chiral superconducting phase in rhombohedral graphene. Our theory reveals the potential of these classes of chiral superconductors as promising elements for building high-quality-factor terahertz chiral cavities.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature Communications
Published
2025-07-14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61658-5
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.26

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article

Circular-polarization-selective perfect reflection from chiral superconductors

Ashvin Vishwanath, Junyeong Ahn
1 citations
Nature Communications
Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism
1.26
article

Circular-polarization-selective perfect reflection from chiral superconductors

Ashvin Vishwanath, Junyeong Ahn
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Integrating mirrors with magnetic components is crucial for constructing chiral optical cavities, which provide tunable platforms for time-reversal-asymmetric light-matter interactions. Here, we introduce single-crystal circular-polarization-selective mirrors based on chiral superconductors, which break time-reversal symmetry themselves, eliminating the need for additional components. We show that a circular-polarization-selective perfect reflection (CSPR) occurs for strong-coupling superconductors in the BCS-BEC crossover regime or beyond if the optical Hall conductivity is significant in the unit of conductivity quantum per unit layer, e<sup>2</sup>/ha<sub>z</sub>, where a<sub>z</sub> is the lattice constant along the surface normal. While the optical Hall conductivity in chiral superconductors is typically tiny, we classify three routes to obtain a large value. We demonstrate the significant optical Hall conductivity and the resulting CSPR with two examples: (1) superconductivity in doped quantum Hall insulators and (2) chiral pairing that preserves the Bogoliubov Fermi surfaces in the weak-pairing limit. We also discuss the application of our theory to the recently discovered chiral superconducting phase in rhombohedral graphene. Our theory reveals the potential of these classes of chiral superconductors as promising elements for building high-quality-factor terahertz chiral cavities.

Nature CommunicationsVol. 16(1)
Harvard University (US), Harvard University Press (US), Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (US), The University of Texas at Austin (US)
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences
Openalex Percentile: Top 20%
Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism
1.26
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Circular-polarization-selective perfect reflection from chiral superconductors — Ashvin Vishwanath, Junyeong Ahn · Nature Communications (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS