title: Transfer matrix approach for the Kerr and Faraday rotation in layered nanostructures.
abstract: To study the optical rotation of the polarization of light incident on multilayer systems consisting of atomically thin conductors and dielectric multilayers we present a general method based on transfer matrices. The transfer matrix of the atomically thin conducting layer is obtained using the Maxwell equations. We derive expressions for the Kerr (Faraday) rotation angle and for the ellipticity of the reflected (transmitted) light as a function of the incident angle and polarization of the light. The method is demonstrated by calculating the Kerr (Faraday) angle for bilayer graphene in the quantum anomalous Hall state placed on the top of dielectric multilayers. The optical conductivity of the bilayer graphene is calculated in the framework of a four-band model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Eötvös University, H-1117 Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Széchenyi
authors.forename: Máté
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vigh
authors.forename: Andor
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kormányos
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cserti