Instrument for determining the polarization state of reflected and transmitted light

An instrument is described which enables the state of polarization of a light beam to be found. It is discussed with reference to studies of optical rotation, circular dichroism and conventional ellipsometry. The main features are that it records automatically and allows the azimuth and ellipticity of an elliptically polarized beam to be measured simultaneously over a wide wavelength range. The performance is illustrated by spectra showing the optical rotation and circular dichroism of an octahedral cobalt lll species.