Using a 16 GHz interferential reflecto-ellipso-polarimeter to study magnetic composite media

A 16-GHz interferential reflecto-ellipso-polarimeter is described. This apparatus is a combination of a lossy turnstile junction and a three-wave interferometer. One can use it to measure very small variations in the rotation and ellipticity of reflected waves. The device has been used to study waves reflected from a magnetic composite material formed by compression of PVC and ferrite particles, and under the influence of a magnetic field perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. For ferrite concentrations exceeding 30%, several resonances were observed: they seem to be related to the average distance between the magnetic particles. This contact between the magnetic particles could be called magnetic percolation by analogy with electric percolation.<
>