Faraday Rotation experiment question

[bcjochim07]

Homework Statement

I used a Faraday Rotator to measure the Verdet constant of SF-59 glass at 650 nm wavelength. In this setup, the glass sample was placed inside a solenoid, and a diode laser was aligned to enter the solenoid and go through the sample. The angle of rotation of an analyzer polarizer (placed where the light exited the solenoid) necessary to return to a fixed value of intensity was measured as a function of current through the solenoid. The intensity value was measured by reading the dc output of a photodiode detector. My question: Does the magnetic field affect the photodiode detector in any way?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[chrisk]

Verify experimentally. Try varying the distance of the photodetector from the end of the solenoid and note the current readings as a function of distance. Do you expect laser intensity to vary with distance? If not sure, measure it without a magnetic field applied and use these readings to adjust for any possible magnetic effects when a field is present.