Magneto-optic vector magnetometry for sensor applications

Abstract

Influence of the magnetization components on the magneto-optic (MO) vector magnetometry and MO sensor applications is discussed for a general magnetization direction. Magneto-optic magnetometers are usually based on linear magneto-optic effects. We include also quadratic (second-order) and cubic (third-order) MO effects in description of a total magneto-optic response. The higher-order MO effects are generally anisotropic and exhibit high sensitivity to a crystal symmetry. Several advantages of magneto-optic sensor applications are presented.