Evaluation of polarization angle rotation of propagating light in a partially ionized atmosphere under discharge conditions.

The polarization angle rotation of the propagating beam was estimated in a partially ionized atmosphere under discharge conditions. The polarization plane angle rotation is caused by the magneto-optical effect (Faraday effect). The estimated rotation angle is of the order of <1 degree, but can be detected with an extinction ratio of polarization of >30 dB. We examined the effects of the optical path length of repeating square mirror optics and an air-gap length of the discharge on the rotation angle. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 163(4): 1–7, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (<URL>www.interscience.wiley.com</URL>). DOI 10.1002/eej.20689 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]