Abstract

An experiment was proposed to probe quantum effects on optical activity. The helical structures in optically active media act as natural microsolenoids for the electromagnetic waves passing through them, which produces a longitudinal magnetic field in the axis of helices. Magnetic flux through a helical crystal structure is quantized. A high number of quanta in the rotatory power was probed in the optical activity of α-quartz.

© 2007 Optical Society of America

The Berry phase and the Aharonov-Bohm effect on optical activity

C. Z. Tan
Opt. Express 16(19) 14675-14682 (2008)

Effect of Pressure on the Optical Rotatory Power and Dispersion of α-Quartz

M. B. Myers and K. Vedam
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 56(12) 1741-1745 (1966)

Pressure and Temperature Variation of the Optical Rotatory Power of α-Quartz*

K. Vedam and T. A. Davis
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 58(11) 1451-1455 (1968)

High-accuracy universal polarimeter measurement of optical activity and birefringence of α-quartz in the presence of multiple reflections

P. Gomez and C. Hernandez
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 15(3) 1147-1154 (1998)

Pressure Variation of the Optical Rotatory Power of α Quartz

V. Vyšín and V. Janků
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 61(6) 770-772 (1971)