Photovoltaic effect in noncentrosymmetric material without optical absorption

Yugo Onishi, Hikaru Watanabe, Takahiro Morimoto, Naoto Nagaosa

Published 2022-04-27Version 1

We theoretically propose that the direct current is produced by the light without any optical absorption in metals that break both inversion $\mathcal{P}$ and $\mathcal{T}$ symmetries. This process can be regarded as the Raman process leaving the current in the material. Candidate materials for the present photovoltaic effect include multiferroics breaking both $\mathcal{P}$ and $\mathcal{T}$ symmetries. Furthermore, $\mathcal{T}$ symmetric ferroelectrics with slight doping also support similar photocurrent under illumination of circularly polarized light, i.e., the circular photogalvanic effect (CPGE).