Optical absorptions and rotations in the ferrimagnetic garnets

Abstract

The optical properties of several of the ferrimagnetic garnets have been measured. There are several maxima in the absorption below an absorption edge at about 5 200 Å. Light passing through the crystals undergoes a nonreciprocal rotation of its plane of polarization. The structure in the plot of rotation versus photon energy reflects that in the absorption curve. A magnetic circular dichroism is observed. These data allow us to study the electronic energy levels in these magnetic materials. The properties are such that domain structure can easily be seen and studied by transmitted light