The interactions of the eigen vectors with the medium define the eigen values of the medium. The term Linear in expressions like Linear Dichroism and Linear Birefringence refers to media which have eigen vectors corresponding to linearly polarized light. Accordingly, Circular refers media with eigen vectors corresponding to circularly polarized light. The construction is illustrated by the Figure . Descriptions of the derived terms have been included under the preferred term.
Birefringence is the dependence of light refraction on light polarization .
This phenomenon is the origin of the terms Birefringence and Double Refraction. The effect can been observed in liquids and solutions even if the chromophores are randomly oriented in space. CB studies have played an important role in the development of stereochemistry. The polarization plane of linearly polarized light traversing a Circularly Birefringent medium is rotated. The rotation is the result of an increment in the relative phase of the left and right circularly polarized components in which the plane polarized light can be decomposed.