Abstract

When linearly polarized light passes through matter, the plane of polarization will rotate when a longitudinal magnetic field is applied. This so called Faraday effect is well known to laser spectroscopists, for instance from magneto-optical spectroscopy of a dilute atomic gas. Of course spectroscopists are also aware of a well-known application of the Faraday effect in condensed matter, namely in optical isolators. In this talk we point out, and experimentally demonstrate, a novel aspect of the Faraday effect. Specifically, we address the question of how it behaves in going from a dilute gas to condensed matter.

© 1994 IEEE