Anomalous inverse Faraday effect for graphene quantum dots in optical vortices
Phys. Rev. B 114, 154430 – Published 29 September, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/jzck-plc9
Abstract
Optical vortices interacting with two-dimensional (2D) materials enable unprecedented control over quantum phenomena. Here, we report an anomalous inverse Faraday effect (IFE) in graphene quantum dots (GQDs) under linearly polarized vortex illumination, where the transferred orbital angular momentum (OAM) induces a light-driven magnetic moment. Using our recently developed time-dependent quantum perturbation framework [Xu and Xie, Phys. Rev. B 110, 085425 (2024)], we make a counterintuitive observation: in certain off-axis regions, the induced magnetic moments reverse direction, manifested as currents counterrotating relative to the vortex's helical wavefront. Phase-difference analysis and eigenmode decomposition resolve this anomaly, further revealing that OAM transfer efficiency is orders of magnitude lower than its spin counterpart. Remarkably, the anomalous IFE persists under Lindblad dissipation. This work provides a platform for optical OAM-to-magnetization conversion in quantum-engineered 2D systems.
