Asymmetric optical properties - caused by standing waves of monochromatic light

摘要

Inducement of asymmetric optical properties by establishment of stationary waves of monochromatic light in materials whose molecules can be arranged by the electric field associated with the light. The standing wave can be set up by interference between two light beams polarised in the same sense but propagated in opposite directions. For instance a linearly polarised light beam, e.g. from an argon ion or CO2 laser passed through two lambda/4 plates and reflected from a mirror will set up a helicoidal standing waves in a transparent substance placed between the quarter wave plates inducing rotatory power and circular dichroism. The molecular rearrangement may be frozen in by salification or polymerisation.