Laser-Based Instrument for Electric Dichroism Spectroscopy of Small Molecules

Abstract

While the chemical information provided by electric dichroism spectroscopy can be useful for studying the conformation and electronic structures of molecules in solution, the dichroism signals produced at fields approaching the dielectric strength of organic solvents are extremely small and difficult to detect. A double-beam, laser-based instrument for electric dichroism measurements is described which allows detection of dichroism signals corresponding to changes in absorbance of less than 10−6 with only a 1.2-kV high-voltage source.