Natural optical activity and its control by electric field in electrotoroidic systems

Abstract

We propose the existence, via analytical derivations, novel phenomenologies, and first-principles-based simulations, of a new class of materials that are not only spontaneously optically active, but also for which the sense of rotation can be switched by an electric field applied to them-- via an induced transition between the dextrorotatory and laevorotatory forms. Such systems possess electric vortices that are coupled to a spontaneous electrical polarization. Furthermore, our atomistic simulations provide a deep microscopic insight into, and understanding of, this class of naturally optically active materials.