Interpretation of optical activity in incommensurate structures using jones calculus

Abstract

Using Jones calculus methods for spatially inhomogeneous anisotropic optical media, the problem of optical activity of incommensurately modulated phases in dielectrics with the spatially average inversion symmetry is studied. An ideal defect-free incommensurate structure in a plane-wave modulation region is modelled. As a result of specific boundary conditions for the phase of the modulation, the model predicts different behaviors for the optical activity in the light propagation directions far from and parallel to the optical axes.

Key Words:

• Incommensurate phase transitions
• Jones calculus
• optical activity