Chirality, magnetism and light

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Laser induced breakdown of the magnetic field reversal symmetry in the propagation of unpolarized light

We show how a medium, under the influece of a coherent control field which is resonant or close to resonance to an appropriate atomic transition, can lead to very strong asymmetries in the propagation of unpolarized light when the direction of the magnetic field is reversed. We show how EIT can be used to mimic effects occuring in natural systems and that EIT can produce very large asymmetries as we use electric dipole allowed transitions. Using density matrix calculations we present results for the breakdown of the magnetic field reversal symmetry for two different atomic configurations.Comment: RevTex, 6 pages, 10 figures, Two Column format, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Chirality and magnetism: Free electron on an infinite helix, NCD, MCD,and magnetochiral dichroism

The free electron on a helix with periodic boundary conditions is undoubtedly one of the simplest quantum chemical models exhibiting both chirality and orbital angular momentum. Subjected to a light beam traveling parallel to the helix axis, the model exhibits natural circular dichroism and, assuming a lifting of the magnetic degeneracy by an external static magnetic field, also magnetic circular dichroism and magnetochiral dichroism. We believe that the model illustrates well the interplay of chirality and magnetism in a pure magnetic state, and that it could also be of interest in the study of the recently discovered chiral ferromagnets

Chirality and magnetism II: Free electron on an infinite helix, inverse Faraday effect and inverse magnetochiral effect

The interplay of chirality and magnetism is of fundamental physical interest. A free electron on a helix with periodic boundary conditions is possibly the simplest model exhibiting both chirality and orbital paramagnetism. In a previous report we have studied with this model the relation between natural circular, magnetic circular and magnetochiral dichroism. Here we extend our investigation to the second-order nonlinear optical phenomena designated as the inverse Faraday effect and as the inverse magnetochiral effect. Both effects manifest themselves as a radiation-induced time-independent magnetic field which lifts the magnetic degeneracy of the system. While the inverse Faraday effect is circular differential, the comparatively much weaker inverse magnetochiral effect is independent of the polarization of the incident radiation