Nonlinear Faraday effect in CdS semiconductor in an ultrahigh magnetic field

Abstract

Joint American-Russian experiments to study the optical and magnetooptical properties of CdS in ultrahigh magnetic fields up to ∼ 7.5 MG were carried out. A significant nonlinearity in the angle of rotation of the polarization plane was observed in CdS at wavelengths of 544 nm at T = 100 K, H = 2.5 MG and of 633 nm at T = 300 K, H = 5 MG. An absorption spectrum study at probe wavelength of ∼ 495 nm (300 K) revealed an increase in optical transmission associated with a splitting of the conduction band. A microscopic-phenomenological model which qualitatively and quantitatively explains all the experimental results is proposed.