Magneto-Electric Jones Birefringence: A Bianisotropic Effect
Abstract
In 1948, R. C. Jones showed that uniaxial media can in general show four different fundamental optical phenomena, each of which appears in refraction and absorption. Three of them are well-known: isotropic refraction and absorption, linear birefringence and dichroism, circular birefringence and dichroism. The fourth effect has remained unobserved so far. It represents an additional linear birefringence (and dichroism) with its fast and slow axes tilted by 45 degrees with respect to the axes of the standard linear birefringence. Jones birefringence should occur in several uniaxial crystal classes, and isotropic media subjected to external parallel magnetic and electric fields perpendicular to the direction of the light; delta n (sub J) = n+45 deg - n-45 deg = k(sub J) lamda E dot B. This report discusses the first experimental observation of the magneto-electric Jones birefringence, induced in liquids.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 29, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADP011633
Entities
People
- G. L. Rikken
- T. Roth