The linear magneto-optic effect as a manifestation of a higher order magnetoelectric effect

Abstract

Abstract The nontraditional magnetooptical effect–the birefringence of a linearly polarized light which is proportional to the first degree of magnetic field strength, or the linear magnetooptical effect is considered as the higher order magnetoelectric effect. This effect can be described by the HiEjEk-invariants in the thermodynamic potential of a magnetic ordered crystal. The experimental data on linear magnetooptical effect in antiferromagnetic crystals and its applications to observation of the time-reversed antiferromagnetic domains are presented. The experimental results are also displayed which testify that an electric field of the linearly polarized light wave can induce the magnetic moments in the non-centroantisymmetrical antiferromagnetic crystal.