dX0= ;
dz dt
K0 dY0+ 4πne = −
dt dtdz
dY0= − ;
dz dt
m d²ξ+ R1 + aξ = ( X0 + neξ ) e + He
dt² dt3 dt
m d²η+ R1 + aη = ( Y0 + neη ) e − He ;
dt² dt3 dt

where H is the external magnetic field, X0, Y0 the components of the part of the electric force in the wave not due to the charges on the atoms, α and β the components of the magnetic force, ξ and η the co-ordinates of an ion, R1 the coefficient of resistance to the motion of the ions, and α the force at unit distance tending to bring the ion back to its position of equilibrium, K0 the specific inductive capacity of a vacuum. If the variables are proportional to εl(pt−qz) we find by substitution that q is given by the equation

q² − K0p² − 4πne²p²P= ± 4πne³Hp³,
P² − H²e²p² P² − H²e²p²

where

P = (a − 4⁄3πne²) + R1ιp − mp²,

or, by neglecting R, P = m (s² − p²), where s is the period of the free ions. If, q1², q2² are the roots of this equation, then corresponding to q1 we have X0 = ιY0 and to q2 X0 = −ιY0. We thus get two oppositely circular-polarized rays travelling with the velocities p/q1 and p/q2 respectively. Hence if v1, v2 are these velocities, and v the velocity when there is no magnetic field, we obtain, if we neglect terms in H²,