Bulg. J. Phys. vol.27 no.2 (2000), pp. 066-071



Reflection of Electromagnetic Waves at the Boundary of Optically Active Media

l.J. Lalov, N.A. Kojouharova
Faculty of Physics, Sofia University, Sofia 1164, Bulgaria
Abstract. This paper contains a review of the results concerning the reflection of the electromagnetic waves (e.m.w.) at the boundary between nonactive isotropic medium and optically active medium. Condon constitutive relations and Maxwell boundary conditions are used. Both isotropic and anisotropic optically active media are subjects of consideration. Strong birefringence masks optical activity but it is not an obstacle for demonstration of optical activity in single and multiple reflection. Reflection spectroscopy is the unique possibility for experimental manifestation of the weak optical activity in crystal classes C3v, C4v, C6v.

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