Modelling Nanostructures with Circularly Birefringent Materials

In this work, we have modelled multilayer magneto-photonic nanostructures in one dimension which display circular birefringence. Starting from Maxwell's equations, we have derived the 4 × 4 transfer matrix for these media. This is used to calculate optical and magneto-optical properties when the structure is deposited on an isotropic transparent substrate. For a transparent substrate it is important to include the effect of multiple incoherent back reflections in the substrate; therefore, the calculations were adapted to consider such reflections for both thick finite isotropic and circularly birefringent substrates. The results show the significant contribution of incoherent back reflections on the magneto-optical Kerr effects. We have reanalysed Sato's modulation method including incoherent back reflections in the substrate. We have derived exact and approximate Faraday rotation formulae for a circularly birefringent film on a circularly birefringent substrate; and a circularly birefringent cavity structure.