Abstract
Complex electromagnetic media provide unique playground to craft the propagation of light flows and obtain unconventional electromagnetic responses. A profound example is axion response which breaks both inversion and time-reversal symmetry, enables nonreciprocal routing of light and results in the same equations of electrodynamics as those describing hypothetic axions.
The axion response in condensed matter is known for a long time, though its magnitude is quite small. In photonics, such materials, known as Tellegen media, have recently been realized experimentally.
In this talk, I will revisit this area and discuss the mechanisms behind emergent axion response in metamaterials. Next I will present our recent theoretical prediction of a novel type of electromagnetic response in photonic and condensed matter systems which has some parallels with the axion (Tellegen) media, but features distinct optical properties. Finally, the prospects of experimental observation of this physics will be discussed.
Anyone interested is welcome to attend.