Experiment No.
2A
Faraday Effect
Objective
To study the Faraday effect and to determine the Verdet constant of the material for a given
wavelength of light
Principle: The Verdet constant is the proportionality constant between the angle of rotation
of the plane polarized light and the product of the path length through the sample and the
applied magnetic field , that is, or Verdet Constant, .
Fig. 2A.1 : Experimental setup
Theory: The Faraday Effect is a widely used magneto-optical effect in which the plane of
polarization is rotated as it passes through a medium placed in a magnetic field. The
magnetic moment associated with the electron spin in the medium experiences a force trying
to align it along the DC magnetic field. This results in a precession of the spinning electrons
about the direction of the magnetic field. A linearly polarized light beam passing through the
medium parallel to the magnetic field can be considered to be comprising two opposite
circular polarizations. Owing to the precession of the magnetic moments each circular
polarization experiences a different magnetic permeability inside the medium. As a result the
two circular polarizations travel with different speeds and come out from the other side of
the medium with a phase difference. These two opposite circular polarizations when
recombined gives rise to a linear polarization rotated by a certain angle with respect to the
original polarization direction. The amount of rotation is proportional to the distance
travelled by the light through the medium and the strength of the magnetic field. Thus θ =
VlB. The proportionality constant V is called the Verdet constant. The strength of the
magnetic field is B = πNI, where N is the number of turns per unit length of the solenoid and
I the current through the solenoid.
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Fig. 2A.2 : Rotation of the polarization plane
Procedure:
Arrange the components as shown in figure 2A.1 above. Align the laser beam in order to
pass it through the axis of the solenoid containing the glass rod and the centre of the pin hole
detector. Rotate the polarizer and the analyzer to get the maximum transmitted light. Now
rotate the analyzer to get the minimum intensity. Switch on the power supply of the electro
magnet. Increase the current through the solenoid at suitable intervals (so that the change in
polarization angle can be detected) starting with zero current. The intensity will increase
slightly. Now rotate the lead screw of the analyzer in order to get a minimum intensity
position and note the corresponding readings from the dial of the analyzer (relative to the
zero current position). This is the angle of rotation . Perform the experiment for both the
lasers (green and red) and comment on your observations.
Fig. 2A.3 : Verdet constant as a function of wavelength
Observations:
Number of turns in the solenoid = 2508
Length of the solenoid = 15 cm
Number of turns per unit length N = =
Length of the glass rod l = 10 cm
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Calculate the Least count (in minutes).
Magnetic Field
SI Current I Verdet Constant
B=µ0NI
No. (ampere) (minute)
(oersted)
Find the Verdet
constant by
plotting I vs
and making a
least square fit.
Note that N is the number of turns per unit length
Result: Verdet constant of the substance = ............................... minute / oersted / cm
Reference
K. Iizuka, Elements of Photonics, Wiley-Interscience (2002)
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