Faraday and Kerr Effects in Magnetic Compounds

Some recent work on the magnetooptical properties of magnetic insulators and semiconductors is reviewed. Emphasis is placed on understanding the atomic origin of the Faraday and Kerr effects in terms of molecular-orbital energy levels. The classes of materials discussed are chromium trihalides, orthoferrites, garnets, ferrites, chromium spinels, and divalent europium compounds. Copyright © 1972, IEEE. All rights reserved.