Macroscopic Polarization and Magnetization from Cavity Vacuum Fluctuations

Abstract

Cavity light-matter interaction has recently emerged as a new avenue for manipulating material properties without driving fields. Here, we demonstrate that cavity vacuum fluctuations can induce macroscopic polarization (magnetization), even in materials that lack spontaneous polarization (net magnetization) in free space. Starting from the effective photon-free quantum-electrodynamics Hamiltonian, we identify all crystallographic (magnetic) point groups that allow such cavity-induced responses. We derive the form of the corresponding response tensors based on symmetry analysis, whose elements can be obtained by quantum electrodynamical density functional theory (QEDFT) calculations. As representative examples, we show that the cavity-induced polarization in $α$-quartz can be continuously controlled by rotating the cavity. For antiferromagnetic Mn$_3$Sn, we demonstrate that cavity-induced symmetry breaking generates an out-of-plane magnetization, accompanied by an anomalous Hall conductivity component that is forbidden outside the cavity. Our work establishes symmetry as a guiding principle for cavity materials engineering and provides a route for controlling polarization and magnetization through quantum vacuum fluctuations, i.e., cavity materials engineering.