Chirality and polymers

Abstract

Optical activity, since its discovery, has been a fascinating field, from the seemingly simple issues related to transfer of (chiral) information to its cosmic connections and the origin of life itself. There has been much progress made on both fronts which include the discovery of strong infrared circular polarization from dust scattering to the more down to earth knowledge of how chiral information is transferred to solutes by chiral additives, piezoelectricity and opalescent elastic networks. The progress made in the past few years and their implications for various aspects of chirality are discussed.