THEORY OF DICHROISM IN THE ELECTROMAGNETIC RESPONSE OF SUPERCONDUCTORS

A microscopic theory of dichroism in the magneto-optical properties of superconductors is presented. Four distinct mechanisms for dichroism in superconductors are identified. Two are modifications of mechanisms known from the normal state, and two are novel effects found in super conductors only. The theory is illustrated by numerical calculations f or a simple model system. The interplay between relativistic symmetry breaking and superconducting coherence is found to give rise to a vari ety of new effects, not known from dichroism in the normal state.