Electromagnetic Waves in Faraday Chiral Media

Abstract

Plane wave propagation in two kinds of Faraday chiral media, where Faraday rotation is combined with optical activity, is studied to examine methods of controlling chirality. The two types of media studied are magnetically biased chiroplasmas and chiroferrites. For propagation along the biasing magnetic field, four wavenumbers and two wave impedances are found which are dependent on the strength of the biasing field. Dispersion diagrams for the chiroplasma case are plotted. Propagation at the plasma frequency of the chiroplasma is also investigated. © 1992 IEEE