  The Faraday effect, caused by a magnetic-field-induced change in the optical
properties, takes place in a vast variety of systems from a single atomic layer
of graphenes to huge galaxies. Currently, it plays a pivot role in many
applications such as the manipulation of light and the probing of magnetic
fields and material's properties. Basically, this effect causes a polarization
rotation of light during its propagation along the magnetic field in a medium.
Here, we report an extreme case of the Faraday effect where a linearly
polarized ultrashort laser pulse splits in time into two circularly polarized
pulses of opposite handedness during its propagation in a highly magnetized
plasma. This offers a new degree of freedom for manipulating ultrashort and
ultrahigh power laser pulses. Together with technologies of ultra-strong
magnetic fields, it may pave the way for novel optical devices, such as
magnetized plasma polarizers. In addition, it may offer a powerful means to
measure strong magnetic fields in laser-produced plasmas.
