On quadratic dc magnetic field-induced circular birefringence and dichroism in isotropic chiral media

Authors:

• Roman Zawodny,
• Stanisław Woźniak,
• G. Wagniere

Abstract

The general expressions for the Stokes parameters of an electromagnetic wave of any polarization propagating in an isotropic absorbing medium exposed to a dc magnetic field in the Faraday configuration are derived. Taking into account not only the molecular polarizabilities related to the electric dipole and magnetic dipole but also to the electric quadrupole transitions, the full expression for the quadratic Faraday effect is derived. It is seen that additional, originally unreported terms also play a role, and that the contributions to the effect in fluids are partly independent of the direction of the applied magnetic field relative to the light beam. It is therefore suggested that the effect be reconsidered as quadratic dc magnetic field-induced variation of natural circular birefringence. The chiral molecular symmetries are presented for which the quadratic dc magnetic field induced circular birefringence and dichroism can take place. © 1997 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.