Rectification Effect in Noncentrosymmetric Crystals

Abstract

Rectification effect, which represents that forward and backward current in solids becomes inequivalent, has been conventionally discussed in semiconductor p–n junction or metal-semiconductor interface. However, it was recently discovered that the intrinsic rectification effect or nonreciprocal transport can occur even in transrational symmetric crystals without inversion center. Such rectification effect inherent in noncentrosymmetric solids reflect the peculiar electronic structures, geometrical or topological properties of the wave function, and spin/charge dynamics. Here we report the systematic studies of the intrinsic rectification effect under the magnetic field in a variety of noncentrosymmetric quantum materials. It is clarified that intrinsic rectification effect can provide rich information of electronic band structure such as spin-orbit interaction, superconducting fluctuation and vortex dynamics, thus being a powerful probe for exotic quantum phases of matters.