A new method for determining the optical rotatory dispersion of transparent crystalline layers

Abstract

ABSTRACT The channeled spectra of optically active crystalline layers, (quartz of Maramures was used in our experiments) placed between two identical crossed polarizers, were recorded and the difference ' nc nl  n r between the crystal refractive indices for circularly polarized radiations to left and to ri ght, respectively, was computed by using the conditions of the minima and maxima of flux density in channeled spectrum. The theory of the phenomena determining the channeled spectra is discussed here. The optical rotatory dispersion of quartz is estimated in the visible range and the obtained results are concordant with those from literature. The quartz optical rotatory dispersion decreases when the wavelength of radiation increases (from blue to red). This kind of meas urements is important for industry of optical devices working in polarized light. The method described in this paper is dist inguished by rapidity and a large spectral range in which can be applied. Keywords : Quartz from Carpathian Mountains; Refractive indices of quartz for circularly polarized radiations to left and to right; Optical rotatory dispersion