We extend our earlier investigations [Opt. Commun. {\\bf 179}, 97 (2000)] on the enhancement of magneto-optical rotation (MOR) to include inhomogeneous broadening. We introduce a control field that counter-propagates with respect to the probe field. We derive analytical results for the susceptibilities corresponding to the two circular polarization components of the probe field. From the analytical results we identify and numerically demonstrate the region of parameters where significantly large magneto-optical rotation (MOR) can be obtained. From the numerical results we isolate the significance of the magnetic field and the control field in enhancement of MOR. The control field opens up many new regions of the frequencies of the probe where large magneto-optical rotation occurs. We also report that a large enhancement of MOR can be obtained by operating the probe and control field in two-photon resonance condition.
We investigate theoretically the effects of vacuum-induced coherence (VIC) on magneto-optical rotation (MOR). We carry out a model study to show that VIC in the presence of a control laser and a magnetic field can lead to large enhancement in the rotation of the plane of polarization of a linearly polarized weak laser with vanishing circular dichroism. This effect can be realized in cold molecular gases and may be used as a sensitive probe for VIC. Such a large MOR angle can also be used to detect weak magnetic field with large measurement sensitivity.