High-Sensitivity Linear Dichroism Measurement with a Modified Commercial Spectropolarimeter

An electro-optic device is described which permits the measurement of polarized absorption spectra (linear dichroism) to high sensitivity between 1850 and 5000 Å in a commercial spectropolarimeter. For polarimeters with the standard electro-optic circular dichroism attachment, or for any instrument measuring circular dichroism by the electro-optic technique, the new device consists merely of a simple electronic power supply and a quartz depolarizer. Sensitivities on the order of 10−4 absorbance units are easily attainable.