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Photonics Dictionary

dichroism

Dichroism refers to the property of certain materials to exhibit different colors or absorbance of light depending on the direction of light propagation or polarization. The term is commonly used in the context of optics and materials science.

There are two main types of dichroism:

Linear dichroism: This occurs when a material exhibits different absorbance or color characteristics for light waves vibrating in different directions. In other words, the absorption of light varies depending on the polarization direction of the incident light.

Circular dichroism: This occurs when there is a difference in the absorption of left-handed circularly polarized light compared to right-handed circularly polarized light. Circular dichroism is often used in the study of chiral molecules, such as biological molecules like proteins and nucleic acids.

Dichroism is observed in various materials, including crystals, minerals, and biological samples. Scientists use dichroism as a tool to study the structural and optical properties of materials, gaining insights into molecular arrangements, orientations, and other characteristics.
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