Optical investigation of gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticle-doped silica gel matrix for birefringent components

We present an optical study of silica gel matrix doped with maghemite gamma -Fe2O3 nanoparticles originating from a ferrofluid. This work is a prelimi nary study for building adjusted birefringent components suitable for ellip sometry. Silica gel matrix is obtained as sol-gel synthesis. Results show t hat pure and doped samples solidified out of a magnetic field are quasi-iso tropic, whereas samples solidified In the presence of a magnetic field exhi bit a very large permanent linear birefringence comparable to that produced by the ferrofluid under the same magnetic field.