Measurements of the polar reflection Faraday effect (PRFE) in pure Ag and Au have been made in the visible and near-infrared regions of the spectrum. The measurements are remarkably insensitive to the details of the sample preparation and aging, and can therefore be confidently assumed to represent the bulk behavior. The PRFE measurements are in good quantitative agreement with the values calculated using the known properties of pure Ag and Au, and are strongly influenced by the contact of the Fermi surface at the zone boundaries. Conversely, such measurements can give a quantitative measure of the amount of contact of such Fermi surfaces with the zone boundaries, even for alloys.

• Received 30 April 1965

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.139.A1844