Observation of time-nonreversible optical interaction with zinc-blende semiconductors

Light-induced specular rotation resulting from a time-nonreversible nonreciprocal interaction of light with semiconductors of zinc-blende structure is reported. The rotation increases with pump intensity at the rate of 1.1×${10}^{\mathrm{-}11}$ rad ${\mathrm{W}}^{\mathrm{-}1}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^2$ in GaAs and 4.3×${10}^{\mathrm{-}11}$ rad ${\mathrm{W}}^{\mathrm{-}1}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^2$ in InSb and does not disappear immediately after the end of the excitation, but partially decays on a subnanosecond time scale.