Rotation and dichroism associated with microwave propagation in chiral composite samples

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Radio Science; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/91RS01370· OSTI ID:5830035

Umari, M H; Varadan, V V; Varadan, V K ^[1]

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1. Pennsylvania State University, University Park (USA)

Experimental results are presented on the angle of rotation and the axial ratio (dichroism) associated with the propagation of microwave waves in chiral composite samples (a phenomenon akin to optical rotation and optical dichroism). In the experiments the chiral composite samples tested were made in the form of planar slabs and consisted of low loss dielectric matrix materials in which miniature copper springs of left only, right only, or an equal mixture of left and right handedness were randomly distributed and oriented. The normally incident wave was linearly polarized. In the chiral sample the linearly polarized wave decomposes into left and right circularly polarized waves which propagate with different speeds and different attenuations leading to an elliptically polarized transmitted wave whose orientation (electromagnetic rotation) and axial ratio (dichroism) are proportional to the concentration of springs. Rotation and dichroism are shown to be zero in the equichiral samples. 10 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5830035
• Journal Information: Radio Science; (United States), Journal Name: Radio Science; (United States) Vol. 26; ISSN RASCA; ISSN 0048-6604
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360606* -- Other Materials-- Physical Properties-- (1992-)
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
COPPER
DICHROISM
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
EPOXIDES
MATERIALS
METALS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
MOTION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLARIZATION
RADIATIONS
ROTATION
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TRANSMISSION
WAVE PROPAGATION