Molecular magnetic anisotropies from the Cotton–Mouton effect

Abstract

Improved equipment for measuring magnetic and electric birefringence in liquids and solutions is described. Molar Cotton–Mouton constants and molar Kerr constants at 298 K and 632.8 nm are reported for four model species (benzene, carbon disulphide, chloroform and pyridine) dissolved in each of three non-dipolar solvents (carbon tetrachloride, cyclohexane and dioxan). A careful analysis of the data yields the magnetic anisotropies of the solutes and illustrates the advantages and limitations of dilute–solution birefringence measurements as a route to this quantity.