Perfect Circular Dichroism in the Haldane Model

Abstract

We theoretically show that perfect circular dichroism (CD) occurs in the Haldane model in which the two-dimensional (2D) material absorbs only either left-handed or right-handed circularly polarized light. Perfect CD occurs in the phase diagram of the Haldane model when the zero-field quantum Hall conductivity has a nonzero value. The coincidence of the occurrence of perfect CD and zero-field quantum Hall effect is attributed to the fact that the effect of broken time-reversal symmetry is larger than the effect of broken inversion symmetry. On the other hand, valley polarization and perfect CD occur exclusively in the phase diagram. Further, for the four regions of the phase diagram, pseudospin polarization occurs at the K and K′ points in the hexagonal Brillouin zone with either the same sign or opposite sign for the K and K′ points and for the valence and conduction bands. This theoretical prediction may have an impact on search for a new optical device that selects circularly polarized light controlled by the electric field.