Feraday and Kerr Effect

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Feraday and Kerr Effect 1 THE FARADAY AND KERR EFFECTS The Faraday and Kerr Effects Zoë Little, Klaudia Kozek, and Julian Marrero SVSM UNCC 2010 2 THE FARADAY AND KERR EFFECTS Abstract Though discovered over a century ago, the Faraday and Kerr Effects of polarized light are two of the most instrumental components of optical communication technology today. The nature of these properties is the manner in which the polarization of light is affected by an electromagnetic field; the Faraday Effect concerns light transmitted through a magnetic field where as the Kerr effect concerns light reflected off a magnetized surface. These two effects have many practical applications in fiber optics and data storage as well as research into the future of optical technology. 3 THE FARADAY AND KERR EFFECTS Introduction Michael Faraday and the Reverend John Kerr are renowned physicists who were active throughout the 1800s. In 1845, in attempt to determine whether the polarity of light was affected by strong electric fields when passed through a transparent insulator, Faraday failed to detect any changes and turned his efforts toward magnetic fields. In due course, Faraday successfully found that a small change in polarity did occur in this situation; this is now known as the Faraday Effect. In 1875, thirty years later, Kerr decided to take up Faraday’s unfinished experiment, trying to prove that an electric field could also affect the polarization of passing through a transparent material. After using an assortment of mediums, including liquids and solids such as glass, he demonstrated the electro-optic effect. Michael Faraday was an English chemist and physicist. Though Faraday had little formal education especially in higher mathematics, he is considered one of the most influential experimentalists in history (2010, Faraday Effect). Faraday was an accomplished chemist, popularizing terms such as “anode,” “cathode,” “electrode,” and “ion.” He also discovered benzene, invented a precursor to the Bunsen burner, and created the system of oxidation numbers we use today. However, Faraday’s most imperative work was in the field of electromagnetism. He invented the first simple electric motor as well as conducting many experiments that made electricity a viable technology. The Faraday Effect was discovered in 1845 (Mansuripur). The Reverend John Kerr was a Scottish physicist. His most essential work was in the field of electro-optics. In 1875, Kerr discovered that double refraction occurs in solid and liquid dielectrics in an electrostatic field. Double refraction is when a ray of light breaks apart into two waves and creates a double image. The most applicable discovery that Kerr proposed was the Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect (MOKE) was in 1875 (7 June 2010. John Kerr (Physicist)). 4 THE FARADAY AND KERR EFFECTS Light is electromagnetic radiation that varies in wavelength ranging from around 4,000 (violet) to around 7,700 (red) angstroms. This kind of light may be apparent to the average unaided human eye. Light vibrates at different frequencies and travels at different speeds. When light in which electromagnetic vibrations oscillate repeatedly in multiple directions, the light is then considered a non-polarized light. Natural light is made up of photons that scatter in Fig. 1 a random pattern, travelling in many different directions; rather, the light is not correlated. However, certain materials can be used to filter or align the light in one direction. The resulting light is called polarized light. In Fig. 1, the beam of light is shown with two distinct wave directions. It passes through the first polarizing filter which only allows the horizontally polarized light through while blocking the other. Then, upon passing through a vertically polarized filter, all the light is blocked. Polarized lenses are used in sunglasses and cameras to cut glare and sharpen the image. Polarized light can also be used to read stored data on optical drives. 5 THE FARADAY AND KERR EFFECTS The Faraday Effect was Fig. 2 discovered in 1845. When light is transmitted through a strong electromagnetic field, a change in polarization proportional to the strength of the field can be observed; this is the Faraday Effect (β=VBd). In Fig. 2, β is the angle of rotation (in radians), B is the magnetic flux density (in teslas) in the direction of propagation, d is the length of the path (in meters) where the interaction between the magnetic field and the light occurs, and V is the Verdet Constant (radians per tesla per meter), a term Fig. 3 that describes the strength of the Faraday Effect in a material (Ghosh, Atkinson). As the light passes through the magnetized area, its polarization twists. This has many uses in communications because it allows for the creation of an optical diode or optical isolator (Fig. 3) (24 June 2010. Optical Isolator). This device, constructed from a Faraday rotator, like the one pictured in Fig. 2, only allows light to pass through in one direction, much like the diodes found in electrical circuits and the human body. This prevents optical feedback and is especially practical in lasers and optical communication technology. The Faraday Effect also applies to spintronics research because it can be used to determine the spin of electrons in semiconductors (5 July 2010, Faraday Effect). 6 THE FARADAY AND KERR EFFECTS The Kerr Effect (Fig. 4), though very similar in nature to its predecessor, the Faraday Effect, was discovered over thirty years later in 1875. Rather than concerning light transmitted through a strong magnetic field, it concerns light reflected off a Fig. 4 magnetized surface. When light hits a regular metallic surface, it reflects back with no change in polarization. However, this is not the case when the surface is subjected to a magnetic field. When the Kerr Effect is observed, the Fig. 5 light undergoes both a change in polarization and reflected intensity (Walker). The main application of the Kerr Effect is in magneto-optical (MO) drives (Fig. 5). These use flat, circular discs that can encode binary data. When a laser beam is directed at a specific point on the optical disc, it reflects back with a different polarity; this change can be interpreted by the computer as a zero or a one. If the laser head does not touch the disc, the spot represents a “0”, and the spots where the disc has been heated up and magnetically written will translate into a “1”. Optical discs are used for many consumer products such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, and modern 7 THE FARADAY AND KERR EFFECTS video game discs. MO discs are Fig. 6 capable of offering high capacity and moderately inexpensive media as top archival properties, usually being rated with an average life of 30 years. MO drives last far longer than any magnetic media. Magneto-optical Kerr microscopy (Fig. 6) is another use of this effect (Walker). This device can help identify and characterize the magnetic properties of different materials by observing and analyzing the strength of the magneto-optical effect. This method is especially effective because of the speed and clarity in which the effects can be observed. Furthermore, samples of material are not damaged by the process (McCord, Brandow). The Kerr effect can also be used to create high-speed shutters (Lux). Conclusion The Faraday Effect is a property of light. When light passes through a strong electromagnetic field, its polarization changes depending on the strength of the field. The Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect is a property of light where light is reflected off a strongly magnetized surface that causes a change in both the polarization and reflected intensity of the light. The Faraday Effect has been studied in an attempt to try to apply it to optical communications. By enhancing Faraday’s effect, it has been proven that optical resonance lines can be applied to optical communication. A resonance line is the line of longest wavelength 8 THE FARADAY AND KERR EFFECTS associated with a transition between the ground state and excited state. To scramble and unscramble transmitted messages, an optical communication system was designed and effectively tested. It used the improved Faraday Effect at low fields to produce polarization modulation and high dispersion of the enhanced effect at high fields (Bomke). Such discoveries will allow optical communication to improve and will give scientists a step forward into the future of optical technology. 9 THE FARADAY AND KERR EFFECTS Sources McCord, J. (2009). Magneto-optical microscopy. Journal of Applied Physics, 105. Retrieved from http://esm.neel.cnrs.fr/2005-constanta/abs/mccord-abs.pdf Brandow, A.; Geiler, A.; Head, P.; Loura, R.; Marvin, H.; Zartarian, M. (2005). Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect Microscope. Northeastern University Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. Retrieved from http://www.ece.neu.edu/faculty/dimarzio/capstone/samples/Final%20Capstone%20Report.pdf Walker, C. and Morton, S. (2006). MOKE - Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect, SMOKE - Surface Magneto- Optic Kerr Effect. Surface Science Techniques. Retrieved from http://www.uksaf.org/tech/moke.html Mansuripur, M. (Nov 1999). The Faraday Effect. Optics & Photonics News, 10. Retrieved from http://www.mmresearch.com/articles/article3/ Lux, J., (1998). Electro-optical measurements (Kerr, Pockels, and Faraday). High Voltage Experimenter’s Handbook. Retrieved from http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlux/hv/eo.htm Ghosh, A.; Hill, W.; Fischer, P. (2007). Observation of the Faraday effect via beam deflection in a longitudinal magnetic field. PHYSICAL REVIEW A 76. Retrieved from http://www.rowland.harvard.edu/rjf/fischer/images/PRA_76_055402.pdf Atkinson, R. (Fall 2001). Magnetism in a New Light. PEM Applications News for Users of Photoelastic Modulators. Retrieved from www.hindsinstruments.com/wp-content/uploads/pem-10-MOKE.pdf Bomke, H. and Harmatz, M. (1997). Enhanced Faraday effect and its application to optical communication. Applied Optics, 16. Retrieved from http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=ao-16-3-751 (15 July 2010).
Recommended publications
  • Chapter 10 Experimental Methods
    Chapter 10 Experimental Methods 10.1Materials preparation 10.2 Magnetic fields 10.3 Atomic-scale magnetism 10.4 Domain-scale measurements 10.5 Bulk magnetization measurement 10.6 Excitations 10.7 Numerical methods TCD April 2007 1 10.1 Materials Preparation 10.1.1 Bulk material Metals: Melt in an arc furnaces or a rf induction furnace. Heat treat in a resistance furnace (controlled temperature or atmosphere. X-ray Diffractometer Arc A meltermorphous me Gloveboxtals are produced by rapid solidificaSQUIDtion magnetometer - melt spinning Insulators: Mill components e.g. CoO + Fe2O3 ! CoFe2O4 . Grind and fire nx Mix ions in solutions. Precipitate gel as a precusror. Crystals: seed temperature seed Bridgeman method Czochralski method TCD April 2007 2 10.1.2 Thin films Physical vapour deposition Substrate 400 - 1000 C source Evaporation: Thermal e-beam e.g. 10 kV, 1A Mean-free path " = 6/P "in mm, P in Pa. TCD April 2007 3 cap film substrate TCD April 2007 4 Pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) ns pulses of UV light ! 1 J cm2 on the target, ! 10 Hz. directed plume cos11# Growth rate ! 1 nm s-1 TCD April 2007 5 Molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) Carried out in UHV 10-7 - 10-9 Pa Needed to avoid conamination of a slowly-growing film by residual gas. Time for a monolayer 1/2 2 $t = (12MkBT/M) /Pa e..g Oxygen a ! 0.2 nm, P = 10-5 Pa, $t ! 6 0s Growth rate < 0.2 nm s-1 • Franck-van der Merwe • Volmer-Weber • Strannsky-Krastanov TCD April 2007 6 10.1.3 Small particles TCD April 2007 7 TCD April 2007 8 Sputtering Use Ar gas, Ar+ ions are accelerated towards the cathode (target).
    [Show full text]
  • Magneto-Optical Metamaterials with Extraordinarily Strong Magneto-Optical Effect Xiaoguang Luo, Ming Zhou, Jingfeng Liu, Teng Qiu, and Zongfu Yu
    Magneto-optical metamaterials with extraordinarily strong magneto-optical effect Xiaoguang Luo, Ming Zhou, Jingfeng Liu, Teng Qiu, and Zongfu Yu Citation: Applied Physics Letters 108, 131104 (2016); doi: 10.1063/1.4945051 View online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4945051 View Table of Contents: http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/journal/apl/108/13?ver=pdfcov Published by the AIP Publishing Articles you may be interested in Enhanced Faraday rotation in hybrid magneto-optical metamaterial structure of bismuth-substituted-iron-garnet with embedded-gold-wires J. Appl. Phys. 119, 103105 (2016); 10.1063/1.4943651 Magneto-optic transmittance modulation observed in a hybrid graphene–split ring resonator terahertz metasurface Appl. Phys. Lett. 107, 121104 (2015); 10.1063/1.4931704 Plasmon resonance enhancement of magneto-optic effects in garnets J. Appl. Phys. 107, 09A925 (2010); 10.1063/1.3367981 The magneto-optical Barnett effect in metals (invited) J. Appl. Phys. 103, 07B118 (2008); 10.1063/1.2837667 Anisotropy of quadratic magneto-optic effects in reflection J. Appl. Phys. 91, 7293 (2002); 10.1063/1.1449436 Reuse of AIP Publishing content is subject to the terms at: https://publishing.aip.org/authors/rights-and-permissions. Download to IP: 128.104.78.155 On: Fri, 03 Jun 2016 18:26:37 APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS 108, 131104 (2016) Magneto-optical metamaterials with extraordinarily strong magneto-optical effect Xiaoguang Luo,1,2 Ming Zhou,2 Jingfeng Liu,2,3 Teng Qiu,1 and Zongfu Yu 2,a) 1Department of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China 2Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA 3College of Electronic Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China (Received 24 February 2016; accepted 15 March 2016; published online 29 March 2016) In optical frequencies, natural materials exhibit very weak magneto-optical effect.
    [Show full text]
  • Lecture 11: Introduction to Nonlinear Optics I
    Lecture 11: Introduction to nonlinear optics I. Petr Kužel Formulation of the nonlinear optics: nonlinear polarization Classification of the nonlinear phenomena • Propagation of weak optic signals in strong quasi-static fields (description using renormalized linear parameters) ! Linear electro-optic (Pockels) effect ! Quadratic electro-optic (Kerr) effect ! Linear magneto-optic (Faraday) effect ! Quadratic magneto-optic (Cotton-Mouton) effect • Propagation of strong optic signals (proper nonlinear effects) — next lecture Nonlinear optics Experimental effects like • Wavelength transformation • Induced birefringence in strong fields • Dependence of the refractive index on the field intensity etc. lead to the concept of the nonlinear optics The principle of superposition is no more valid The spectral components of the electromagnetic field interact with each other through the nonlinear interaction with the matter Nonlinear polarization Taylor expansion of the polarization in strong fields: = ε χ + χ(2) + χ(3) + Pi 0 ij E j ijk E j Ek ijkl E j Ek El ! ()= ε χ~ (− ′ ) (′ ) ′ + Pi t 0 ∫ ij t t E j t dt + χ(2) ()()()− ′ − ′′ ′ ′′ ′ ′′ + ∫∫ ijk t t ,t t E j t Ek t dt dt + χ(3) ()()()()− ′ − ′′ − ′′′ ′ ′′ ′′′ ′ ′′ + ∫∫∫ ijkl t t ,t t ,t t E j t Ek t El t dt dt + ! ()ω = ε χ ()ω ()ω + ω χ(2) (ω ω ω ) (ω ) (ω )+ Pi 0 ij E j ∫ d 1 ijk ; 1, 2 E j 1 Ek 2 %"$"""ω"=ω +"#ω """" 1 2 + ω ω χ(3) ()()()()ω ω ω ω ω ω ω + ∫∫d 1d 2 ijkl ; 1, 2 , 3 E j 1 Ek 2 El 3 ! %"$""""ω"="ω +ω"#+ω"""""" 1 2 3 Linear electro-optic effect (Pockels effect) Strong low-frequency
    [Show full text]
  • The Faraday Effect
    Faraday 1 The Faraday Effect Objective To observe the interaction of light and matter, as modified by the presence of a magnetic field, and to apply the classical theory of matter to the observations. You will measure the Verdet constant for several materials and obtain the value of e/m, the charge to mass ratio for the electron. Equipment Electromagnet (Atomic labs, 0028), magnet power supply (Cencocat. #79551, 50V-5A DC, 32 & 140 V AC, RU #00048664), gaussmeter (RFL Industries), High Intensity Tungsten Filament Lamp, three interference filters, volt-ammeter (DC), Nicol prisms (2), glass samples (extra dense flint (EDF), light flint (LF), Kigre), sample holder (PVC), HP 6235A Triple output power supply, HP 34401 Multimeter, Si photodiode detector. I. Introduction If any transparent solid or liquid is placed in a uniform magnetic field, and a beam of plane polarized light is passed through it in the direction parallel to the magnetic lines of force (through holes in the pole shoes of a strong electromagnet), it is found that the transmitted light is still plane polarized, but that the plane of polarization is rotated by an angle proportional to the field intensity. This "optical rotation" is called the Faraday rotation (or Farady effect) and differs in an important respect from a similar effect, called optical activity, occurring in sugar solutions. In a sugar solution, the optical rotation proceeds in the same direction, whichever way the light is directed. In particular, when a beam is reflected back through the solution it emerges with the same polarization as it entered before reflection.
    [Show full text]
  • Measurement of the Resonant Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect Using a Free Electron Laser
    applied sciences Review Measurement of the Resonant Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect Using a Free Electron Laser Shingo Yamamoto and Iwao Matsuda * Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +81-(0)4-7136-3402 Academic Editor: Kiyoshi Ueda Received: 1 June 2017; Accepted: 21 June 2017; Published: 27 June 2017 Abstract: We present a new experimental magneto-optical system that uses soft X-rays and describe its extension to time-resolved measurements using a free electron laser (FEL). In measurements of the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE), we tune the photon energy to the material absorption edge and thus induce the resonance effect required for the resonant MOKE (RMOKE). The method has the characteristics of element specificity, large Kerr rotation angle values when compared with the conventional MOKE using visible light, feasibility for M-edge, as well as L-edge measurements for 3d transition metals, the use of the linearly-polarized light and the capability for tracing magnetization dynamics in the subpicosecond timescale by the use of the FEL. The time-resolved (TR)-RMOKE with polarization analysis using FEL is compared with various experimental techniques for tracing magnetization dynamics. The method described here is promising for use in femtomagnetism research and for the development of ultrafast spintronics. Keywords: magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE); free electron laser; ultrafast spin dynamics 1. Introduction Femtomagnetism, which refers to magnetization dynamics on a femtosecond timescale, has been attracting research attention for more than two decades because of its fundamental physics and its potential for use in the development of novel spintronic devices [1].
    [Show full text]
  • Faraday and the Electromagnetic Theory of Light - Openmind Search Private Area
    8/9/2015 Faraday and the Electromagnetic Theory of Light - OpenMind Search Private area Sharing knowledge for a better future Home Faraday and the Electromagnetic Theory of Light Faraday and the Electromagnetic Theory of Light Share 24 August 2015 Physics, Science Sign in or register to rate this publication Michael Faraday (1791-1867) is probably best known for his discovery of electromagnetic induction, his contributions to electrical engineering and electrochemistry or due to the fact that he was responsible for introducing the concept of field in physics to describe electromagnetic interaction. But perhaps it is not so well known that he also made fundamental contributions to the electromagnetic theory of light. In 1845, just 170 years ago, Faraday discovered that a magnetic field influenced polarized light – a phenomenon known as the magneto-optical effect or Faraday effect. To be precise, he found that the plane of vibration of a beam of linearly polarized light incident on a piece of glass rotated when a magnetic field was applied in the direction of propagation of the beam. This was one of the first indications that electromagnetism and light were related. The following year, in May 1846, Faraday published the article Thoughts on Ray Vibrations, a prophetic publication in which he speculated that light could be a vibration of the electric and magnetic lines of force. Michael Faraday (1791-1867) / Credits: Wikipedia Faraday’s case is not common in the history of physics: although his training was very basic, the laws of electricity and magnetism are due much more to Faraday’s experimental discoveries than to any other https://www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/faraday-electromagnetic-theory-light/ 1/7 8/9/2015 Faraday and the Electromagnetic Theory of Light - OpenMind scientist.
    [Show full text]
  • Arxiv:1603.08481V1 [Physics.Optics] 28 Mar 2016 Strong Localized Electromagnetic fields Associated with Plasmonic Resonances
    Magneto-optical response in bimetallic metamaterials Evangelos Atmatzakis,1 Nikitas Papasimakis,1 Vassili Fedotov,1 Guillaume Vienne,2 and Nikolay I. Zheludev1, 3, ∗ 1Optoelectronics Research Centre and Centre for Photonic Metamaterials, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom 2School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798 3The Photonics Institute and Centre for Disruptive Photonic Technologies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371 (Dated: October 15, 2018) We demonstrate resonant Faraday polarization rotation in plasmonic arrays of bimetallic nano- ring resonators consisting of Au and Ni sections. This metamaterial design allows to optimize the trade-off between the enhancement of magneto-optical effects and plasmonic dissipation. Although Ni sections correspond to as little as ∼ 6% of the total surface of the metamaterial, the resulting magneto-optically induced polarization rotation is equal to that of a continuous film. Such bimetallic metamaterials can be used in compact magnetic sensors, active plasmonic components and integrated photonic circuits. The ability to tailor light-matter interactions is equally important for the development of current and future tech- nologies (telecommunications, sensing, data storage), as well as for the study of the fundamental properties of matter (spectroscopy). A typical example involves the exploitation of magneto-optical (MO) effects, where quasistatic mag- netic fields can induce optical anisotropy in a material. This is a direct manifestation of the Zeeman effect, the splitting of electronic energy levels due to interactions between magnetic fields and the magnetic dipole moment associated with the orbital and spin angular momentum [1]. This energy splitting gives rise to numerous polarization phenomena, such as magnetically-induced birefringence and dichroism, which enable dynamic control over the polarization state of light.
    [Show full text]
  • Faraday Rotation Measurement Using a Lock-In Amplifier Sidney Malak, Itsuko S
    Faraday rotation measurement using a lock-in amplifier Sidney Malak, Itsuko S. Suzuki, and Masatsugu Sei Suzuki Department of Physics, State University of New York at Binghamton (Date: May 14, 2011) Abstract: This experiment is designed to measure the Verdet constant v through Faraday effect rotation of a polarized laser beam as it passes through different mediums, flint Glass and water, parallel to the magnetic field B. As the B varies, the plane of polarization rotates and the transmitted beam intensity is observed. The angle through which it rotates is proportional to B and the proportionality constant is the Verdet constant times the optical path length. The optical rotation of the polarized light can be understood circular birefringence, the existence of different indices of refraction for the left-circularly and right-circularly polarized light components. The linearly polarized light is equivalent to a combination of the right- and left circularly polarized components. Each component is affected differently by the applied magnetic field and traverse the system with a different velocity, since the refractive index is different for the two components. The end result consists of left- and right-circular components that are out of phase and whose superposition, upon emerging from the Faraday rotation, is linearly polarized light with its plane of polarization rotated relative to its original orientation. ________________________________________________________________________ Michael Faraday, FRS (22 September 1791 – 25 August 1867) was an English chemist and physicist (or natural philosopher, in the terminology of the time) who contributed to the fields of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. Faraday studied the magnetic field around a conductor carrying a DC electric current.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 7 Kerr-Lens and Additive Pulse Mode Locking
    Chapter 7 Kerr-Lens and Additive Pulse Mode Locking There are many ways to generate saturable absorber action. One can use real saturable absorbers, such as semiconductors or dyes and solid-state laser media. One can also exploit artificial saturable absorbers. The two most prominent artificial saturable absorber modelocking techniques are called Kerr-LensModeLocking(KLM)andAdditivePulseModeLocking(APM). APM is sometimes also called Coupled-Cavity Mode Locking (CCM). KLM was invented in the early 90’s [1][2][3][4][5][6][7], but was already predicted to occur much earlier [8][9][10] · 7.1 Kerr-Lens Mode Locking (KLM) The general principle behind Kerr-Lens Mode Locking is sketched in Fig. 7.1. A pulse that builds up in a laser cavity containing a gain medium and a Kerr medium experiences not only self-phase modulation but also self focussing, that is nonlinear lensing of the laser beam, due to the nonlinear refractive in- dex of the Kerr medium. A spatio-temporal laser pulse propagating through the Kerr medium has a time dependent mode size as higher intensities ac- quire stronger focussing. If a hard aperture is placed at the right position in the cavity, it strips of the wings of the pulse, leading to a shortening of the pulse. Such combined mechanism has the same effect as a saturable ab- sorber. If the electronic Kerr effect with response time of a few femtoseconds or less is used, a fast saturable absorber has been created. Instead of a sep- 257 258CHAPTER 7. KERR-LENS AND ADDITIVE PULSE MODE LOCKING soft aperture hard aperture Kerr gain Medium self - focusing beam waist intensity artifical fast saturable absorber Figure 7.1: Principle mechanism of KLM.
    [Show full text]
  • Theoretical and Experimental Investigations of the Kerr Effect and Cotton-Mouton Effect
    Theoretical and Experimental Investigations of the Kerr Effect and Cotton-Mouton Effect BY ANGELA LOUISE JANSE VAN RENSBURG B Sc Hons (UKZN) Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the School of Physics University of KwaZulu-Natal PIETERMARITZBURG AUGUST 2008 I Acknowledgements I wish to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all those people who have assisted and supported me throughout this work. I would like to make special mention of the following people: My supervisor, Dr V. W. Couling, for his constant assistance and encourage­ ment. For all the extra time and effort he took in helping and guiding me during this work. The staff of the Electronics Centre, in particular Mr G. Dewar, Mr A. Cullis and Mr J. Woodley for their endless assistance in maintaining, repairing and building the electronic apparatus used in this work. The staff of the Mechanical Instrument Workshop for repairing and con­ structing components used in the experimental part of this work. Mr K. Penzhorn and Mr R. Sivraman of the Physics Technical Staff for their help in accessing tools from the Physics Workshop. Also from the Physics Technical Staff, Mr A. Zulu for helping me move dewars of liquid nitrogen from the School of Chemistry to the School of Physics. The National Laser Centre for providing a new laser for the experimental aspect of this work and for their interest in my work. Mr N. Chetty, a fellow postgraduate student, for assisting in my learning of HP-Basic and Latex. Finally, my family, my parents for financing all of my studies and for their constant support and encouragement.
    [Show full text]
  • Notes on Corona-Resistant Antennas for High-Voltage Sensing Applications
    Notes on Corona-Resistant Antennas for High-Voltage Sensing Applications Prof. Gregory D. Durgin, Marcin Morys August 13, 2018 1 Introduction Within emerging smart grid technologies, there is a gaping hole in scientific knowledge regarding design, modeling, and characterization of radio antennas in high-voltage environments. Specifically, useful quantitative models do not exist for describing the dynamic physics of high-voltage AC corona plasmas and their influence on radiating structures; as a result, little guidance is available for the design and measurement of communication antennas that resist this phenomenon. It has long been understood that high-voltages produce severe compatibility and noise issues for radio communications [Juh08]. Only recently, however, has the effect of corona shielding been measured and shown to impair UHF and microwave communication devices that operate at high- voltage line potentials [Val10]. Valenta, et. al. measured a 10 dB drop in the 5.8 GHz received power from an antenna operating at 100 kV line-to-ground AC potential [Val10]. This drop in received power was due to the surrounding corona plasma, an invisible Faraday cage that reflects and attenuates radio signals as well as de-tunes and distorts the antenna that it encapsulates. Antenna designs that resist this corona shielding are critical for wireless sensors that monitor and protect the national power grid. 2 Review of High-Voltage Corona In this section, we review the basic physics of AC corona plasmas and preliminary results on their influence on radio communications using line-potential antennas. 2.1 Plasma Effects on Communications The influence of plasmas on radio communications has been extensively studied for ionospheric propagation.
    [Show full text]
  • Quantum Faraday Effect
    Propagation of photons along the direction of the magnetic field. Quantum Faraday Effect. MsC. Lidice Cruz Rodríguez * Dra. Aurora Pérez Martínez ** Dra. Elizabeth Rodríguez Querts ** Dr. Hugo Pérez Rojas ** * Physics Faculty, Havana University ** Institute of Cybernetic, Mathematics and Physics STARS2015-SMFNS2015 Outline 1. Introduction, Faraday rotation angle. 2. Propagation of photons along the direction of the magnetic field . Quantum Faraday Effect, initial results . Solution of the dispersion equation near the thresholds. 3. Diluted gas: magnetosphere of neutron stars. Quantum Faraday Effect. Solution of the dispersion equation near the thresholds. 4. Summary. 5. Work in progress. Faraday Effect, our initial motivation It is well known that an electromagnetic wave propagating through a medium in an ambient magnetic field suffers Faraday rotation. Classical explanation of the phenomenon: birefringence of the medium Astrophysical applications!!!!!! . Measurements of the magnetic field in the interstellar medium. Particle density in the ionosphere . Difference between the amount of matter and antimatter However, in most of papers the amount of Faraday rotation is derived in a non relativistic regime and for a non degenerated medium. Faraday Effect, our initial motivation However, in most of papers the amount of Faraday rotation is derived in a non relativistic regime and for a non degenerated medium. But in the magnetosphere of neutron stars degenerate plasma Faraday Effect, our initial motivation However, in most of papers the amount of Faraday rotation is derived in a non relativistic regime and for a non degenerated medium. But in the magnetosphere of neutron stars degenerate plasma Faraday rotation in graphene-like systems. J. Appl. Phys. 113, 17B529 (2013) Faraday rotation has been reported in graphene, we use QFT, to describe the astrophysical background and also, graphene-like systems.
    [Show full text]