Abstract

Based on the phenomena of Brewster's angle and the principles of common-path heterodyne interferometry, we present an optical method for measuring the optical rotation angle and the refractive index of a chiral solution simultaneously in one optical configuration. A heterodyne light beam and a circularly polarized heterodyne light beam are separately guided to project onto the interface of a semicircle glass and a chiral solution. One of the beams is transmitted through the solution, and the other is reflected near Brewster's angle at the interface. Then the two beams pass through polarization components respectively for interference. The phase differences of the two interference signals used to determine the rotation angle and the refractive index become very high with the proper azimuth angles of some polarization components, hence achieving an accurate rotational angle and a refractive index. The feasibility of the measuring method was demonstrated by our experimental results. This method should bear the merits of high accuracy, short sample medium length, and simpler operational endeavor.

© 2007 Optical Society of America

Determination of the refractive index and the chiral parameter of a chiral solution based on chiral reflection equations and heterodyne interferometry

Jiun-You Lin
Appl. Opt. 47(21) 3828-3834 (2008)

Homodyne chiral polarimetry for measuring thermo-optic refractive index variations

Ruey-Ching Twu and Jhao-Sheng Wang
Appl. Opt. 54(29) 8747-8750 (2015)

Small-angle measurement with highly sensitive total-internal-reflection heterodyne interferometer

Jiun-You Lin and Yu-Cheng Liao
Appl. Opt. 53(9) 1903-1908 (2014)

Simultaneous measurement of refractive index and wedge angle of optical windows using Fizeau interferometry and a cyclic path optical configuration

Y. Pavan Kumar and Sanjib Chatterjee
Appl. Opt. 48(24) 4756-4761 (2009)

Precise measurement of the refractive index and optical rotatory power of a suspension by a delayed optical heterodyne technique

Takahisa Mitsui and Katsumi Sakurai
Appl. Opt. 35(13) 2253-2258 (1996)