Magneto-toroidal nonreciprocity of second harmonic generation

Abstract: The Lorentz reciprocity principle is a fundamental concept that governs light propagation in any optically linear medium in zero magnetic field. Here, we demonstrate experimentally a novel mechanism of reciprocity breaking in nonlinear optics driven by the toroidal moment. Using high-resolution femtosecond spectroscopy at optical electronic resonances in the magnetoelectric antiferromagnet CuB$_2$O$_4$, we show that by controlling the nonlinear interference of coherent sources of second harmonic generation originating from the toroidal spin order, applied magnetic field, and noncentrosymmetric crystal structure, we induce a huge nonreciprocity approaching 100% for opposite magnetic fields. The experimental results are corroborated by a convincing theoretical analysis based on the magnetic and crystal symmetry. These findings open new degrees of freedom in the nonlinear physics of electronic and magnetic structures and pave the way for future nonreciprocal spin-optronic devices operating on the femtosecond time scale.