Abstract
This paper discusses the acoustic diffraction of light in the presence of an exchange-enhanced photoelastic interaction of aniferromagnetic origin resulting from acoustic modulation of the dielectric permittivity due to oscillations in the antiferromagnetism vector L. In the “easy-plane” type of antiferromagnet these oscillations arise from antiferromagnetoelastic interactions, and can be so large that the photoelastic interaction corresponding to them can be comparable in value to (or even exceed) the interaction in well-known nonmagnetic crystals actually used in acoustooptic devices. The advantage of antiferromagnets lies in the fact that both the diffraction angle and the amplitude of the diffracted light can depend on the magnitude and direction of a magnetic field in these materals. Here the Raman-Nath diffraction regime is discussed, which is probably more favorable from an experimental point of view for the antiferromagnets in question. It is shown that for these materials, the usual mechanism of photoelastic interaction associated with acoustic modulation of the index of refraction is accompanied by an additional mechanism arising from modulation of the polarization of the optical modes. Qualitative estimates are given for FeBO3.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
