Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 1998, 63, 1187-1201
https://doi.org/10.1135/cccc19981187

New Approach to the Theory of Circular Dichroism

Jaroslav Zamastil, Lubomír Skála, Petr Pančoška and Oldřich Bílek

Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, 121 16 Prague 2, Czech Republic

Abstract

Using the semiclassical approach for the description of the propagation of the electromagnetic waves in optically active isotropic media we derive a new formula for the circular dichroism parameter. The theory is based on the idea of the time damped electromagnetic wave interacting with the molecules of the sample. In this theory, the Lambert-Beer law need not be taken as an empirical law, however, it follows naturally from the requirement that the electromagnetic wave obeys the Maxwell equations.

Keywords: Circular dichroism; Optically active media; CD spectroscopy; Quantum chemistry.