Researchers have discovered a unique nonlinear “skin effect” in antiferromagnetic materials, where nonlinear optical responses, such as the bulk photovoltaic effect, are concentrated on the surfaces of the material rather than uniformly distributed throughout. Using first-principles calculations and a custom computational method, the study revealed that while global inversion symmetry is broken in these materials, local inversion symmetry remains intact deep inside. This confines nonlinear effects to the material’s top and bottom surfaces. The research, conducted on two-dimensional antiferromagnetic CrI₃, also confirmed the behavior through second-harmonic generation studies. Published in Physical Review Letters, these findings open new avenues for utilizing surface-dominant nonlinear optical effects in advanced optoelectronic devices, providing insights into both fundamental science and practical high-performance applications.
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