Magnetoelectric Jones birefringence and dichroism in a medium of free atoms

Theoretical treatment of the magnetoelectric Jones birefringence and dichroism is developed through the bilinearity in static electric and magnetic field dipole-forbidden corrections to the amplitude of Rayleigh scattering. In particular cases of orientation of the static fields relative to the polarization and wave vectors of monochromatic radiation, the amplitude determines corrections to the refractive index of atomic gas responsible for (i) the Jones birefringence and dichroism (ii) linear birefringence and dichroism and (iii) directional anisotropy for the monochromatic wave. The analytical equations and numerical data for the indicated corrections, calculated for alkaline-earth-like atoms, determine optimal conditions for observing the effects in vapours. For resonance on 1D2 state essential enhancement is discovered in the frequency dependence for the ratio of refractive index anisotropy of the Jones effect to the square-root product of corresponding anisotropies determining the Kerr and Cotton-Mouton effects