We report a dramatic change in the intensity of a Raman mode with applied magnetic field, displaying a gigantic magneto-optical effect. Using the nonmagnetic layered material MoS₂ as a prototype system, we demonstrate that the application of a magnetic field perpendicular to the layers produces a dramatic change in intensity for the out-of-plane vibrations of S atoms, but no change for the in-plane breathing mode. The distinct intensity variation between these two modes results from the effect of field-induced broken symmetry on Raman scattering cross-section. A quantitative analysis on the field-dependent integrated Raman intensity provides a unique method to precisely determine optical mobility. Our analysis is symmetry-based and material-independent, and thus the observations should be general and inspire a new branch of inelastic light scattering and magneto-optical applications.

ThCr2Si2-type phosphide ACo2P2 (A=Eu, La, Pr, Nd, Ce) has the same structure as iron arsenides, but their magnetic behaviors are quite distinct. In this paper, we grew a series of La1−xCexCo2P2 single crystals (x=0.0 to1.0), made structural and magnetic characterizations. We found the introduction of cerium induces a rapid decrease of c-axis and a change from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic states. Compared to other trivalent doped compounds, the enhancement of ferromagnetism with doping is suppressed and the transition from ferromagnetism to antiferromagnetism appear earlier. By employing first-principles band-structure calculations, we identify the increase of Ce valence suppress the itinerant ferromagnetism and leading to formation of P-P bonding with the shortening of c-axis. The bonding effectively drives an increase of interlayer antiferromagnetic interaction, eventually leads to antiferromagnetic ordering of cobalt in high-doping region.