Combined Jones and Mueller matrix method for the evaluation the optical rotation and circular dichroism in chiral medium

Optical activity and circular dichroism are the intrinsic properties of chiral medium. The control of these proprieties of a medium has drawn considerable attention due to the recent developments due to recent developments in the field of materials and the deeper understanding of light-matter interaction in chiral structures media. With the extensive use of optical polarimetric technic, the relationships between the parameters related to optical activity (optical rotation and circular dichroism) and the Mueller matrix elements have been derived. In this work, we begin with a presentation of a theoretical model for the determination of the Jones and the Mueller matrices, whose objective is to identify pairs of this Mueller matrix elements suitable for the measurement of the optical rotation (OR) and circular dichroism (CD) for incident waves normally to a chiral medium. Then, an experimental configuration to determine the Mueller matrix is described. These investigations have potential applications in medicine, biochemistry, defense and for the homeland security. Some of the merits of the method, such as, a simple optical set-up, high accuracy, low cost and easier operation.

Automated summary

The study of optical activity and circular dichroism is important for better understanding the properties of chiral media and the interaction between light and matter. By using optical polarimetric techniques, the optical rotation and circular dichroism of chiral media can be determined based on the relationships between related parameters and Mueller matrix elements. The theoretical model and experimental configuration in this research have potential applications in various fields such as medicine, biochemistry, defense, and homeland security.