Optical Kerr Effect in a Series of n-Alcohols

Systematic measurements of optically induced birefringence in short-chain n-alcohols from methanol to decanol (excluding nonanol) have been carried out. The microscopic parameters of the molecular liquids such as optical and molar Kerr constants, the anisotropic factors, optical anisotropy and orientation function were calculated. A linear correlation between the molar Kerr constant and the number of carbon atoms in the alcohol molecule has been found.