title: Quantum effects in the optical activity of alpha-quartz.
abstract: An experiment was proposed to probe quantum effects on optical activity. The helical structures in optically active media act as natural microsolenoids for the electromagnetic waves passing through them, which produces a longitudinal magnetic field in the axis of helices. Magnetic flux through a helical crystal structure is quantized. A high number of quanta in the rotatory power was probed in the optical activity of alpha-quartz.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, 210093 Nanjing, China. tan@chemie.fu-berlin.de
authors.forename: C Z
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen