Light-induced drift of ions in a magnetic field

The effect of a magnetic field on the ion drift in a weakly ionized gas under the combined action of the light-induced drift and light pressure is studied theoretically. It is shown that, under the action of light, a component of ion drift velocity transverse to the direction of propagation of radiation may appear in a weakly ionized gas upon the application of an external magnetic field. It is shown that the Lorentz force acting on ions in the magnetic field radically changes the dependence of the ion drift velocity on the radiation frequency detuning. It is predicted that the ion drift velocity component along the direction of radiation must reverse its sign upon an increase in the magnetic field and an anomalous light-induced drift may be observed.