Phase-stable optical activity measurement by common-path spectral interferometry

A robust optical activity (OA) spectrometer covering the visible and near-infrared regimes was designed and built via a combination of a linear polarizer and a birefringent plate. The OA spectrometer relies on common-path spectral interferometry, where the two interfering fields travel common optical paths, and ensures signal reproducibility over several hours. By detecting OA without polarization switching, the data acquisition time is shortened to 1 s, enabling real-time monitoring of the chiral complex formation. The present configuration also allows OA measurement with broadband pulses, which is promising for probing ultrafast circular dichroism and optical rotatory dispersion. (C) 2020 Optical Society of America