The refractive indices and Verdet constants of the inert gases

TLDR

A method is proposed to theoretically derive the refractive index and Verdet constant of an atomic system. The method is applied to atomic hydrogen and the inert gases, with the results compared to experimental data. The analysis shows that neon’s Verdet constant is normal, attributes the earlier anomaly to underestimated experimental error, and reports polarizabilities of He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe as 1.384, 2.663, 11.080, 16.734, and 27.292 (in units of α³⁰).

Abstract

A method is suggested by which the refractive index and Verdet constant of an atomic system may be derived theoretically. It is applied to atomic hydrogen and to the inert gases and a comparison is made with experimental data. The Verdet constant of neon is not anomalous. The origin of the suggestion appears to be an underestimate of the experimental error. The analysis yields values of th e polarizabilities of th e inert gases which are respectively He, 1-384; Ne, 2-663; Ar, 11-080; K r, 16-734; X e, 27-292 in units of α 3 0