Optics, electromagnetic theory Polarization and crystal optics Concept
Optical activity
Summary
Optical activity, or optical rotation, is the turning of the plane of linear polarization as light passes through certain materials. It happens in chiral media, such as quartz or a sugar solution, where the two circular polarizations have different refractive indices. The angle of rotation grows linearly with the length of the path. It is used to measure the concentration of chiral molecules and to tell mirror-image molecules apart.
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| Tag | 6037NA1P98 |
|---|---|
| URI | m2://6037NA1P98 |
| Kind | concept |
| Writing | W0 stub |
| MSC | 78A10 |
| Same as | |
| Changed | 3 November 2026 |
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