INVESTIGATION OF A PLANAR CHIRAL WAVE-GUIDE STRUCTURE BY A MODIFIED ATR METHOD

Chiral properties of planar waveguide structures with a core layer for med by a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) host matrix doped with chira l santonin were investigated by means of a modified attenuated total r eflection (ATR) method. Distinct modification of the observed ATR spec tra was revealed for right and left circularly polarised incident beam s. From comparison of the experimental spectra with theoretical curves , the following specific rotation was obtained: [alpha](633)(20) = 11, 200 deg cm(2) g(-1) (santonin/PMMA mass ratio 2:1). The origin of the observed optical activity and its influence on the waveguide dispersio n characteristics are briefly discussed. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, L td.