A Note Concerning a Gyroelectric Medium

Abstract

The fact that a homogeneous electron gas when immersed in a uniform magnetostatic field becomes electrically anisotropic, i.e., gyroelectric, is placed in evidence. The permeability of the gas remains equal to that of free space, but its dielectric constant is transformed to a dyadic or tensor upon application of the magnetostatic field. The properties of the dielectric tensor are such that a plane electromagnetic wave propagating through such a medium under- goes a Faraday rotation. This rotation is the dual of the Faraday rotation produced by gyromagnetic media. The dielectric tensor of the electron gas is deduced and the Faraday rotation constant is calculated.