The Faraday effect in diamagnetic glasses

The wavelength dispersions of the Faraday effect in typical diamagnetic glasses, i.e., silica, borate, silicate, tellurite, lead-bismuth-gallate, and As₂S₃, have been examined. The Verdet constant of the glasses decreases with increasing wavelength in the longer wavelength region of the absorption edge of the glasses, while it increases with increasing optical bandgap of the glasses. These phenomena have been successfully explained based on the Becquerel theory. A guiding principle in designing a diamagnetic glass with a high Verdet constant is proposed.