Berry effect in unmagnetized inhomogeneous cold plasmas
R. Torabi, M. Mehrafarin+
Physics Department, Tafresh University, 39518-79611 Tafresh, Iran
+Physics Department, Amirkabir University of Technology, 15914 Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The propagation of electromagnetic waves in an unmagnetized weakly
inhomogeneous cold plasma is examined. We show that the
inhomogeneity induces a gauge connection term in wave equation,
which gives rise to Berry effects in the dynamics of polarized rays
in the post geometric optics approximation. The polarization plane
of a plane polarized ray rotates as a result of the geometric Berry
phase, which is the Rytov rotation. Also, the Berry curvature causes
the optical Hall effect, according to which, rays of left/right
circular polarization deflect oppositely to produce a spin current
directed across the direction of propagation.