Magneto-optics of II-VI diluted magnetic semiconductors

K, S. Krishnan's pioneering contributions to the magnetism of condensed mat ter included insightful studies on crystals with 3d transition metal ions a s one of the constituents. We illustrate, with examples of striking magneto -optic phenomena, how the incorporation of such ions in the tetrahedrally c oordinated II-VI semiconductors (the ZI-VI diluted magnetic semiconductors) has created a splendid scientific opportunity. These II-VI magnetic semico nducting alloys exhibit huge excitonic Zeeman splittings which in turn resu lt in a giant Faraday rotation and an impressively large Voigt birefringenc e.