Circular and linear magnetic birefringences in xenon at $\lambda = 1064$ nm

TL;DR

This study measures and compares the magnetic birefringences in xenon at 1064 nm, providing the first Faraday effect measurement at this wavelength and confirming theoretical predictions for both effects.

Contribution

First measurement of the Faraday effect in xenon at 1064 nm and validation of theoretical models for magnetic birefringences at this wavelength.

Findings

Faraday effect measurement agrees with theory within 1σ

Cotton-Mouton effect measurement confirms theoretical predictions

Measurement uncertainties are comparable to other experimental values

Abstract

The circular and linear magnetic birefringences corresponding to the Faraday and the Cotton-Mouton effects, respectively, have been measured in xenon at $\lambda = 1064$ nm. The experimental setup is based on time dependent magnetic fields and a high finesse Fabry-Perot cavity. Our value of the Faraday effect is the first measurement at this wavelength. It is compared to theoretical predictions. Our uncertainty of a few percent yields an agreement at better than 1$\sigma$ with the computational estimate when relativistic effects are taken into account. Concerning the Cotton-Mouton effect, our measurement, the second ever published at $\lambda = 1064$ nm, agrees at better than $1\sigma$ with theoretical predictions. We also compare our error budget with those established for other experimental published values.