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Magnetorefractance

Magnetorefractance is a magneto-optic effect arising from the magnetoresistance effects, through the permittivity component of the index of refraction.

It may also be stated as a perturbation of a high frequency magnetodielectric effect.

The effect was first discovered via giant magnetoresistance between magnetizable metal layers. A change in index of refraction for all polarizations of light occurs when a magnetic field is applied to, sufficient to flip magnetic alignment.

Commonly investigations of this effect involve varying the frequency of electromagnetic radiation, and benchmarking the reflectivity. This is followed by applying a magnetic field and re-characterizing the reflectivity. A comparison of the reflected signal between these two magnetic orientation shows a change of intensity, which is taken as a change of refractive index