ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the Faraday effect, that is, the rotation of the plane of polarization of linearly polarized light traveling through a medium in the presence of a longitudinal magnetic field; discusses its microscopic origin in diamagnetic, paramagnetic, and ferrimagnetic materials, its variation with wavelength; and briefly describes further magneto-optic effects, particularly the Cotton-Mouton effect, Voigt effect, and magneto-optic Kerr effect. The material-shape-dependent magnetic depolarization factor is introduced. A Table lists selected Faraday materials for magnetic field and current sensing and material parameters of interest, particularly the type of magnetism, the Verdet constant at various wavelengths, and its temperature coefficient.
