Kramers Nonlinearity in PT Symmetric Magnets

Abstract: Kramers degeneracies play an essential role in the spectrum of electronic materials. Here we argue that beyond spectral properties, Kramers degeneracy plays a critical role in the nonlinear response of PT symmetric magnets. In particular, we uncover a class of second-order Kramers nonlinearities that only arise in the presence of Kramers degeneracy, vanishing in non-degenerate PT symmetric materials. Kramers nonlinearties depend on a circular dichroism between PT related Kramers states and enable to trace out the quantum geometry of the degenerate band structure. We find pronounced Kramers nonlinearitites in the nonlinear polarization responses of even layer antiferromagnetic MnBi$_2$Te$_4$ that enable to identify its antiferromagnetic order. This provides novel means for diagnosing Kramers pairs and addressing the internal Kramers degree of freedom.