<title>Fourier transform spectrometer for the measurement of vibrational-circular-dichroism reaches down to the beginning of the far-IR spectral region</title>

Abstract

Fourier-Iransform specirometer for the measurement of vibrational circular dichroism (VCD)reaches down to the beginning of the far infrared spectral regionGunter Georg Hoffmann* and Hans-Jurgen HochkampInstitut fur Physikalische mid Theoretische ChemieUniversitilt Essen, D-4300 Essen, GermanyABSTRACTA dedicated VCD interferometer optimized for the range of 800 to 300 cmt is described and its performance is discussedwith the help of single beam and calibration spectra down to 400 cnf'.1.INTRODUCTIONThe measurement of vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) originated from the wish to expand measurement of circulardichroism into the infrared spectral region in order to access the CD of vibrational transitions. So the history of VCD shows acontinuing search for spectrometers capable of making measurements at increasingly longer wavelengths. This is of strong interestfor the theory of VCD and the complementary interpretation of Raman circular mtensity difference spectra. Unfortunately themeasurement of circular dichroism becomes the more difficult, the more one advances into the infrared region. That is why the