An inverse Faraday effect generated by linearly polarized light through a plasmonic nano-antenna

The inverse Faraday effect (IFE) generates magnetic fields by optical excitation only. Since its discovery in the 60 s, it was believed that only circular polarizations could magnetize matter by this magneto-optical phenomenon. Here, we demonstrate the generation of an IFE via a linear polarization of light. This new physical concept results from the local manipulation of light by a plasmonic nano-antenna. We demonstrate that a gold nanorod excited by a linear polarization generates non-zero magnetic fields by IFE when the incident polarization of the light is not parallel to the long axis of the rod. We show that this dissymmetry generates hot spots of local non-vanishing spin densities (local elliptical polarization state), introducing the concept of super circular light, allowing this magnetization. Moreover, by varying the angle of the incident linear polarization with respect to the nano-antenna, we demonstrate the on-demand flipping of the magnetic field orientation. Finally, this linear IFE generates a magnetic field 25 times stronger than a gold nanoparticle via a classical IFE. Because of its all-optical character, this light–matter interaction opens the way to ultrafast nanomanipulation of magnetic processes such as domain reversal, skyrmions, circular dichroism, control of the spin, its currents, and waves, among others.