Theoretical and experimental analysis of a stress-plate modulator for magnetic circular dichroism measurements.

This paper analyzes the operation of a particular class of polarization modulator, the oscillating stress plate, when it is used for making magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) measurements. In particular, precise calibration factors relating the MCD signal strength to the amplitude of the modulator stress are given. Also, construction and performance of a very simple and inexpensive modulator are described.