The propagation of electromagnetic waves in magnetoelectric crystals: The discrete dipole approach

Abstract

The propagation of an electromagnetic wave through a crystal consisting of atoms which display electric, magnetic and magnetoelectric interactions is described. The incoming electromagnetic wave induces electric and magnetic dipoles in this system, which will generate, through their polarizabilities, electric and magnetic dipole fields. By a self-consistency procedure we arrive at a secular determinant equation, which yields the normal mode wavevectors in the bulk. A computer program is generated to find these wavevectors and the accompanying dipole strengths. Some model calculations are performed. A comparison with classical continuum approaches is made and small differences are found.

Key Words:

• Discrete dipole approach
• magnetoelectric materials optics.