Signal analysis for optical rotation measurements using a differential polarimeter

The Physikalisch-Techniche Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Braunschweig, offers a calibration service for the optical rotation (OR) of Quartz glass plates. Such Quartz plates are used as calibration standards in the sugar industry, since the optical rotation of light passing a solution of water and sugar shows a characteristic dependency of the sugar concentration. The calibration setup at PTB was established in the 1980s and will soon be replaced by a modernized measurement setup. This contribution will elaborate on the established measurement method based on differential polarimetry and discuss possible adaptations of the setup and its signal analysis, which have become available due to technical advancements.