More generally, the imaginary parts of the eigenvalues of the anisotropic dielectric tensor should be considered.
2.
In response to a magnetic field, some materials can have a dielectric tensor that is complex-Hermitian; this is called a gyro-magnetic or magneto-optic effect.
3.
As with the other magneto-optical effects, the theory is developed in a standard way with the use of an effective dielectric tensor from which one calculates systems eigenvalues and eigenvectors.