A simple explanation for the inverse Faraday effect in metals

The orbit of an electron driven by a circularly polarized light beam is generally a solenoid with axis parallel to its shifted initial velocity. The motion of the electron yields a solenoidal current which generates a magnetic moment depending on direction of the shifted initial velocity. Average of these magnetic moments per unit volume in a free electron gas provides a simple microscopic explanation for the theory of the inverse Faraday effect in metals recently given by Hertel [ J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 303 (2006) L1]. (C) 2009 ElsevierB.V. All rights reserved.