Magnetization-induced second harmonic generation in a polar ferromagnet

Phys Rev Lett. 2004 Jan 30;92(4):047401. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.047401. Epub 2004 Jan 28.

Abstract

Second harmonic generation (SHG) induced by spontaneous magnetization has been investigated for a polar ferromagnetic crystal of GaFeO3. The Kerr rotation of the second harmonic light becomes gigantic with decreasing temperature below the magnetic transition temperature (approximately =205 K), e.g., as large as 73 degrees at 100 K. The magnetic domains can be visualized by using that large nonlinear Kerr rotation. The spectrum of the magnetization-induced SHG as measured indicates the two-photon resonant electronic process on a Fe3+ ion in the crystal.