Optical properties of magnetic crystals

Abstract

From symmetry considerations and using generalized Onsager relations, it is shown that 66 of the 90 magnetic classes, consisting of 29 single colour and 37 double colour ones, can exhibit what may be called the strain gyrotropic rotation. Similarly, 69 of the 90 magnetic classes, consisting of 21 single colour and 48 double colour ones, can exhibit what may be called the strain gyrotropic birefringence. A crystal in the class m3 or m3m is interesting as it can exhibit strain gyrotropic rotation despite its being cubic and incapable of exhibiting gyrotropic rotation in the unstressed state. Similarly, a crystal in the class m3m, is interesting as it can exhibit strain gyrotropic birefringence despite its being cubic and incapable of exhibiting gyrotropic birefringence in the unstressed state.