Theory of the Faraday Effect in Solids

Abstract

A calculation is made of the Faraday effect in solids. By the use of a modified Bloch representation developed for the problem of Bloch electrons in a magnetic field, the conductivity tensor is expanded to first order in the magnetic field. The result can be separated into the intraband or free carrier Faraday effect and contributions corresponding to direct interband transitions. The general form of the results is in agreement with previous expressions, but the present calculation enables one to predict the sign and order of magnitude of the effect from band-edge parameters. The results are applied to the case of the direct transition in Ge and III-V compounds.