Fraunhofer diffraction by a slit into a medium with irreversibility of optical waves

Abstract This study investigates Fraunhofer diffraction by a slit into a medium exhibiting both natural optical activity and magneto-optical activity induced by an external magnetic field. The features of the diffraction pattern caused by the simultaneous presence of the two specified types of optical activity, which together lead to irreversibility of waves, are revealed. It is shown, in a particular case, that the diffraction pattern is asymmetric relative to the plane of symmetry of the considered optical scheme.