Magnetic birefringence in a liquid crystal: An experiment for the advanced undergraduate laboratory

摘要

We describe an experiment involving an exciting phenomenon in liquid crystals, the magnetic field induced birefringence. We present a theoretical description accessible to junior- or senior-level physics majors, and we describe experiments for measuring the field and temperature dependence of the magnetic birefringence. The apparatus required for the experiment is inexpensive and/or easily constructed. (C) 2000 American Association of Physics Teachers. [References: 18]