Recently, it was found that an electronic state can have hidden, site-dependent spin polarization even in non-magnetic materials with inversion symmetry. Our paper provides a new concept, so far not considered, of hidden orbital polarization and a proof that the hidden spin polarization is not the fundamental physical quantity but a secondary quantity that is completely derived from the hidden orbital polarization proposed in our paper. The hidden orbital polarizations can be important in many physical phenomena, including photoemission, current-induced magnetization, magnetic-field-induced currents, etc. The figure illustrates hidden orbital polarizations of Bloch states in diamond whose spin–orbit coupling is negligible (left) and the current-induced antiferromagnetic magnetization in silicon (right).
- Ji Hoon Ryoo
- Cheol-Hwan Park
