Abstract
We derive a quantum-mechanical formula of the orbital magnetic quadrupole moment (MQM) in periodic systems by using the gauge-covariant gradient expansion. This formula is valid for insulators and metals at zero and nonzero temperature. We also prove a direct relation between the MQM and magnetoelectric (ME) susceptibility for insulators at zero temperature. It indicates that the MQM is a microscopic origin of the ME effect. Using the formula, we quantitatively estimate these quantities for room-temperature antiferromagnetic semiconductors and . We find that the orbital contribution to the ME susceptibility is comparable with or even dominant over the spin contribution.
- Received 1 March 2018
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.98.020407
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