Berry Effect in Unmagnetized Inhomogeneous Cold Plasmas

Abstract

The propagation of electromagnetic waves in an unmagnetized weakly inhomogeneous cold plasma is examined. We show that the inhomogeneity induces a gauge connection term in wave equation, which gives rise to Berry effects in the dynamics of polarized rays in the post geometric optics approximation. The polarization plane of a plane polarized ray rotates as a result of the geometric Berry phase, which is the Rytov rotation. Also, the Berry curvature causes the optical Hall effect, according to which, rays of left/right circular polarization deflect oppositely to produce a spin current directed across the direction of propagation.