Acoustic diffraction of light in magnetoelectric antiferromagnets

Abstract

As an extension of the former paper (this issue), the acoustic diffraction of light is calculated for magnetoelectric (center-antisymmetrical) antiferromagnets. Raman-Nath's regime is considered (which has not been investigated before) for antiferromagnets with tetragonal easy-plane anisotropy. Some reasons and conditions favourable to the experimental discovery of acousto-optic effects in magneto-electric antiferromagnets are discussed as well. A peculiarity of these effects is their strong dependence on the applied magnetic and electric fields.

Key Words:

• Acoustics
• antiferromagnetism
• diffraction.