Nonlinear Faraday effect in CdS semiconductor in an ultrahigh magnetic field

A significant nonlinearity in the angle of rotation polarization plane was observed in CdS at wavelengths of 494 in the presence of high magnetic fields (0.5-5 MG). The onset significant nonlinearity also depended on sample temperature. An absorption study with probe wavelength of {approximately} 494 nm revealed an increase in optical transmission associated with a splitting of the conduction band. Dispersion, field and temperature curves indicate a low conduction electron mass m{sub e} = 0.3 m{sub o}. A numerical calculation and interpretation of the observed effects was carried out using band theory. The optical and magnetooptical properties of semiconducting crystals of CdS were studied, reviews of which are presented in [1,2]. This article describes joint American-Russian experiments to study the optical and magnetooptical properties of CdS in ultrahigh fields to {approximately} 7 MG.