Circular dichroismCircular dichroism (CD) is dichroism involving circularly polarized light, i.e., the differential absorption of left- and right-handed light. Left-hand circular (LHC) and right-hand circular (RHC) polarized light represent two possible spin angular momentum states for a photon, and so circular dichroism is also referred to as dichroism for spin angular momentum.
Polarization (waves)Circular polarization of oscillations of rubber thread, converted to linear polarizationPolarization, or polarisation, is a property of transverse waves which specifies the geometrical orientation of the oscillations. In a transverse wave, the direction of the oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of motion of the wave. One example of a polarized transverse wave is vibrations traveling along a taut string, for example, in a musical instrument like a guitar string.
Chirality (chemistry)In chemistry, a molecule or ion is called chiral () if it cannot be superposed on its mirror image by any combination of rotations, translations, and some conformational changes. This geometric property is called chirality (). The terms are derived from Ancient Greek (cheir) 'hand'; which is the canonical example of an object with this property.
Linear polarizationIn electrodynamics, linear polarization or plane polarization of electromagnetic radiation is a confinement of the electric field vector or magnetic field vector to a given plane along the direction of propagation. The term linear polarization (French: polarisation rectiligne) was coined by Augustin-Jean Fresnel in 1822. See polarization and plane of polarization for more information.
BirefringenceBirefringence, also called double refraction, is the optical property of a material having a refractive index that depends on the polarization and propagation direction of light. These optically anisotropic materials are described as birefringent or birefractive. The birefringence is often quantified as the maximum difference between refractive indices exhibited by the material.
Liquid crystalState of matter with properties of both conventional liquids and crystalsSchlieren texture of liquid crystal nematic phaseLiquid crystal (LC) is a state of matter whose properties are between those of conventional liquids and those of solid crystals. There are many types of LC phases, which can be classified by the molecular shape of their subunits, the arrangement and symmetry of the phase, as well as the method by which the liquid crystalline phase is accessed.
CrystalA crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituents (such as atoms, molecules, or ions) are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions. In addition, macroscopic single crystals are usually identifiable by their geometrical shape, consisting of flat faces with specific, characteristic orientations. The scientific study of crystals and crystal formation is known as crystallography.
ChiralityChirality () is the property of an object not being identical to its reflection, or mirror image. An object is chiral if it is not identical to its reflection; that is, it cannot be superposed (mapped by rotations and translations alone) onto itself. Conversely, an object is achiral (sometimes also amphichiral) if its reflection cannot be distinguished from the object (i.e. can be superposed onto its reflection), such as a sphere.
QuartzQuartz is a hard mineral composed of silica (silicon dioxide). Its atoms are linked in a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen atom being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall chemical formula of SiO2. Therefore, quartz is classified structurally as a framework silicate mineral and compositionally as an oxide mineral. Quartz is the second most common mineral or mineral group in Earth's lithosphere, comprising about 12% by mass.
MetamaterialA metamaterial (from the Greek word meta, meaning 'beyond' or 'after', and the Latin word , meaning 'matter' or 'material') is an engineered material whose properties arise not from the chemical composition of its base substances, but from their deliberately designed internal structure. These properties are often rare or absent in naturally occurring materials.
SucroseSucrose (also called saccharose) is a disaccharide, a sugar composed of glucose and fructose subunits. It is produced naturally in plants and is the main constituent of white sugar. It has the molecular formulaC12H22O11. For human consumption, sucrose is extracted and refined from either sugarcane or sugar beet.FluidIn physics, a fluid is a liquid, gas, or other material that may continuously move and deform (flow) under an applied shear stress, or external force. They have zero shear modulus, or, in simpler terms, are substances which cannot resist any shear force applied to them.
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