Description:

In the Fermi liquid metallic state, a static local magnetic moment is induced on the application of a circularly polarized electromagnetic wave, via the Inverse Faraday Effect(IFE). The direction of this moment is along the direction of propagation of light, and the magnitude of the moment depends on the frequency of light, the temperature and various material parameters characteristic of the metal. I will present a microscopic formulation that describes this effect and predicts the magnitude of induced moments with examples.  I propose an analogous effect in the Fermi liquid state of 3He. A static circulating current is induced when liquid 3He is driven by a circularly polarized transverse acoustic wave. The propagation of transverse sound in 3He has been predicted but not observed thus far.  I propose an analogue of the inverse Faraday effect as a scheme to experimentally demonstrate the propagation of transverse sound in the coupled system of 3He-aerogel. I estimate the magnitude of induced circulating currents for this system and find that these are within the range of experimental measurement.

Priya Sharma, Research Fellow, University of Surrey, UK

Host: Bill Halperin