Electrical birefringence in solutions of rigid-chain polymers

Experimental and theoretical aspects of the application of steady and transient electrical birefringence methods to dilute solutions of rigid-chain polymers are examined. The prospects of using the Kerr effect to study the conformational and the structural characteristics of macromolecular chains are analysed. The effect of the polarity of the medium on the electro-optical properties of polymeric molecules is discussed. The bibliography includes 117 references.