Inverse Faraday effect

The inverse Faraday effect is the effect opposite to the Faraday effect. A static magnetization M → ( 0 ) is induced by an external oscillating electrical field with the frequency ω , which can be achieved with a high intensity laser pulse for example. The induced magnetization is proportional to the vector product of E → and E → ∗ :

M → ( 0 ) ∝ [ E → ( ω ) × E → ∗ ( ω ) ]

From this equation we see that the circularly polarized light with the frequency ω should induce a magnetization along the wave vector k → . Because E → is in the vector product, left- and right-handed polarization waves should induce magnetization of opposite signs.

The induced magnetization is comparable to the saturated magnetization of the media.