Influence of X-rays upon Time-lags of the Faraday Effect and upon Optical Rotation in Liquids

Abstract

DIFFERENCES in the time-lags of the Faraday effect behind the magnetic field in various liquids have been measured by Beams and Allison (Phys. Rev., 29, 161; 1927). Certain considerations have led me to suspect that these time-lag differences might be affected, and even reduced to zero, by the action of X-rays on the liquid. A number of experimental tests very recently carried out demonstrate that the X-rays have such a property. It was found in every case that the time-lag differences of the Faraday effect between any pair of the liquids vanished so long as the liquids were exposed to the X-rays, and that the lags were restored with the screening off of the X-rays. The liquids thus far used are carbon disulphide, carbon tetrachloride, ethyl alcohol, xylene, and chloroform.