Microwave Modulation of Light in Paramagnetic Crystals

Abstract

The considerations of Dehmelt and several other workers about the modulation of light by radio-frequency signals in atomic vapors are extended to paramagnetic solids. It is shown that these materials, driven near a microwave resonance at low temperatures may be used both to create and to detect modulation of light at microwave frequencies. Experimental design criteria are discussed at the hand of two numerical examples, modulated circular dichroism in ruby and modulated Faraday rotation in a broad class of ionic rare earth compounds. Some possible applications of microwave modulated light are reviewed.