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 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. © 2013 American Physical Society.