Theory of magnetostatic waves in moving ferrite films and applications to rotation rate sensing

A first-order field theory for electromagnetic waves in moving ferrites and ferrite thin films is presented. The dominant effect of the motion is found to be the Doppler-shifted frequency observed in the moving frame. This gives rise to an anomalously large shift in wavenumber, due to the dispersive nature of the ferrite medium. Because of the large effect, it is suggested that a moving-medium experiment using magnetostatic waves could be used to distinguish between various competing forms for the dispersion term in the Fresnel-Fizeau coefficient. The results of the field theory are discussed with relation to relative and absolute rotation rate sensing. The author describes how magnetostatic waves could be used to measure relative rotation rates if confined to propagate around the perimeter of a rotating disk. Since the phase shift would be established in the time required to propagate around the disk, the response time could be significantly shorter than conventional tachometers. An experiment with counterpropagating magnetostatic waves is suggested to clarify the effect of a magnetic medium on the magnitude of the Sagnac effect