Abstract

The optical systems required to observe the Faraday or Voigt effects in atomic vapors are described in terms of the corresponding Jones matrices. The solution of the matrix equations reveals separate, additive dichroic and dispersive contributions to the transmitted intensity. The two contributions are combined by use of the Kronig-Kramers relations to give a final expression for the intensity due to magneto-optical rotation. This appears as the product of the intensity transmitted through the atomic vapor, the square of the zero field absorbance within the vapor, and the inverse square of a "Zeeman factor" z. Empirical data for the latter two parameters are currently available. Thus, the final formulae permit estimates of magneto-optic signal magnitudes to be made on the basis of presently existing information.

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