F. Schuller et al., THEORY OF FARADAY-ROTATION PRODUCED BY ATOMS NEAR A J(G)=1 2-]J(E)=1/2 TRANSITION/, Journal of physics. B, Atomic molecular and optical physics, 28(17), 1995, pp. 3783-3790
An analytical expression is derived for the Faraday rotation occurring
in a dilute atomic vapour for monochromatic light of any intensity tu
ned near an absorption transition Collisional effects are included bet
ween two levels, each with total angular momentum J = 1/2. within the
framework of the impact approximation. The result is discussed in term
s of simple physical mechanisms; it is shown that optical pumping effe
cts play an important role.