FARADAY EFFECT

Magneto-optic
Experiment Manual

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E-mail: [email protected]
 Experiment
Experiment no.
no. 77

Faraday Effect Apparatus

Model No: HO-ED-P-04

Experiments
• To determine the angle of rotation as a function of mean flux-density using different wavelengths of light and to calculate
the corresponding Verdet’s constant in each case.

• To evaluate Verdet’s constant as a function of wavelength.

Magneto-optics: It is the optical activity in a

homogeneous medium in the presence of a magnetic field. In
b
physics, the Faraday effect or Faraday rotation is an interaction
B
between light and a magnetic field. The rotation of the plane of
polarization is proportional to the intensity of the component of the
magnetic field in the direction of the beam of light. The angle of
E rotation of the polarization-plane of plane polarized light through a
transparent material is found to be a linear function of the product of
d
50
the mean flux-density and the length of the optical medium. The
factor of proportionality is known as Verdet's constant.

The red and green diode lasers (ë = 650nm, 530 nm, respectively) are used for this experiment. The sample is
placed between the polarizer. A photodetector is placed at the end of the unit to measure the intensity as a function of the
analyzer angle qfor a full rotation.

Optical isolators based on Faraday’s effect have important applications in telecommunications preventing
reflected signals on fiber optic cables from producing unwanted signals. Isolators are important when lasers are used
because reflected light can cause havoc with the operation of the laser itself.

Required Components
Optical rail, Diode laser with power supply, Kinematic laser mount with rail carriage, Polarizer with rail carriage, Analyzer with rail
carriage, Pinhole photodetector, Detector O/P measurement unit, Electromagnet, Constant current power supply for electromagnet etc.
 Introduction

In 1854 M. Faraday found that isotropic media become optically active when a magnetic field is applied
in the propagation direction of the light. This was one of the earliest indications that light and electro-magnetism
are related. The angle ö by which the plane of polarization of a linearly polarized beam is rotated is given by

ö=VHl 1

where “V” is the so-called Verdet constant, and “H” is the magnetic field (in Oersted) in the direction of
the light, and the “l” is the length of the medium.

In order to understand the effect, it is useful to think of linearly polarized light as the superposition of
left- and right-handed circularly polarized light of equal amplitude. If it happens that the index of refraction for
left and right light are not the same (this is called circular bi-refringence), then the phase of one component will
advance relative to the other by some angle. When recombining the two components, linear polarization results
that is rotated by half that angle.

Quantum mechanics is needed to understand the reason for the different indices of refraction. Left and
right light is really a beam of polarized photons with spin 1 and magnetic substate +1 or - 1, respectively. In a
magnetic field, the energy levels that can be excited by such photons correspond to slightly different frequencies
(discovered by Zeeman). The frequency shift is the Larmor frequency ùL = (e/2m)B, where e and m are charge
and mass of the electron. From this it is quite straightforward to derive the following expression for the Verdet
constant
2

This equation, which was derived by H. Becquerel (1897) shows that the Verdet constant depends on the
wavelength, the dispersion, and the charge to mass ratio of the electron.

Magnetic Field

The magnetic field is produced in a long solenoid. The solenoid has windings of #18 wire. The number of turns N =
2506 turns. The electrical resistance of the coil has been measured to be 5.2 Ohms at room temperature (note
that this increases with increasing temperature).
The length of the coil (97 mm) is quite a bit shorter than the length of glass rod (120 mm).We may thus assume
that the field B has fallen off to a negligible value before the end of the glass rod.
In this case, the integral in equation may as well be taken from - ∞to +∞. From E&M, we know that

where ì0 = 4ð·10-7 mkg/C2, N is the number of windings, and I is the current through the coil.
 Laser and light detection

A red and green diode laser (ë = 650, 531.9 nm, respectively) are available for this measurement. The
laser output intensity exhibits slow variations in time. One has to keep this in mind for the following
measurements. As the laser is warming up, these variations diminish. Measuring the light intensity as a function
of time (with no other change) gives you a handle on this effect.

The laser beam should be aligned carefully, centering it on all optical components, the sample tube, and
the photodiode. If the beam is not centered well on the photodiode, there may be an unwanted intensity change.
This may deflect the light beam and cause unwanted changes in intensity. In addition, the signal from the
photodiode may not be linear in intensity. In order to test the alignment and linearity, measure the intensity as a
function of the analyzer angle ö for a full revolution, and compare with the expected sin2ö dependence.

The resistive heating of the magnet coil heats the sample and produce convection currents with varying
index of refraction. Make sure the coil cooling is on.

Fig. Experimental arrangement for Faraday effect

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:

1) Switch off the current and produce darkness by crossing the polarizing filters.
Then switch on the current and observe the changes.

2) Produce darkness with the current switch on. Then reverse the current.
Find the angle of rotation necessary for such rotation.

3) Varying the current in the step of 0.4A and recording the angles of rotation. Plot
rotation angles of light beam (vertical axis) vs. current intensity (horizontal axis).

The method used in this experiment is to observe the intensity change of the transmitted light due to a current
change of ÄI. In a second measurement one then determines the angle change Äö of the analyzing polarizer that causes the
same intensity change. The measurement should be carried out for a range of magnetic fields in order to demonstrate that Äö
is proportional to ÄI. The measurement should be carried out at two different wavelengths.

DO NOT LEAVE THE MAGNET AT HIGH CURRENT SETTINGS FOR A LONG TIME, OR IT WILL
OVERHEAT. BEFORE LEAVING THE LABORATORY, CHECK THAT THE LASER AND THE
MAGNET POWER SUPPLY ARE TURNED OFF!
 Calculation

Number of turns in the coil ‘n’ =

Number of turns per unit length ‘N’=
Wavelength of the laser =
Length of the glass rod ‘L’=
Refractive Index of the glass rod =
verdet constant of the glass rod =

Laser Wavelength l
= ....................... Flint Glass
Material =...............................

Current (I) Magnetic Field q Verdet Constant

Sl. No. V = q
(A) H= p NI (Min)
Hl

Mean Verdet Constant V= .........................min/oersted/cm

Oersted (Oe) is the unit of magnetizing field (also known as magnetic field strength or intensity) in the CGS system
of units. The unit was established by the IEC in 1930 in honour of Hans Christian Ørsted, who discovered electromagnetism
in 1820. It is defined as 1000/4p (˜79.5774715) amperes per meter of flux path, in terms of SI units.
 70

Current (I) Intensity 60

(A)

0 14 50
0.4 18 Intensity
0.8 22.4 40
1.2 26
30 Series1
1.6 32.2
2 37.8
20
2.4 45
2.8 52.3 10
3.2 52.3
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5

Current (I)
(A)

Number of turns in the coil ‘n’ = 2508

Number of turns per unit length ‘N’= 2508/15cm = 167.2/cm
Wavelength of the laser = 650nm
Length of the glass rod ‘L’= 10cm
Refractive Index of the glass rod = 1.717
verdet constant of the glass rod =

Magnetic Field Calculation

H= p
NI
p
=
3
.1
4
N = 167.2
I = Current in Ampere

Current (I) Magnetic Field q Verdet Constant

Sl. No. V = q
(A) H= p NI (Min)
Hl

3 -2
1 1.33 0.698X10 120 1.72X10
3 -2
2 2.78 1.459X10 240 1.65X10
3 -2
3 3.15 1.654X10 276 1.69X10

1.686X10-2
Mean Verdet Constant V= .........................min/oersted/cm
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