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The absorption and rotation of light is derived for a free electron constrained to move on a helix. This model is probably the simplest optically active system for which exact wavefunctions can be obtained. It is found that a randomly oriented right-handed helix has a positive rotational strength for the longest wavelength absorption band. As expected, this free electron model gives results very similar to an exciton model in which only nearest-neighbor interactions are considered.
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Tinoco et al. (1964) studied this question.
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