Odd Magneto-Optical Linear Dichroism in a Magnetophotonic Crystal

The phenomena of magneto-optical polarization rotation and circular magnetic dichroism are well known in the Faraday configuration. We present another effect, an odd magneto-optical linear dichroism, arising in nanostructures with polarization-dependent mode Q-factors and magneto-optical components. It reveals itself as the magneto-optical modulation of light intensity for the two opposite magnetization directions in the Faraday configuration. The effect was demonstrated on a magnetophotonic crystal with a cavity mode, the polarization-dependent Q-factor of which is due to oblique incidence. For a polarization angle of 60 degrees (or 120 degrees) and an angle of incidence around 60 degrees, the magneto-optical intensity modulation maximizes and reaches 6%.