Polarized infrared absorbance spectra of an optically anisotropic crystal: Application to the orientation of the OH- dipole in quartz

The polarized infrared (IR) absorbance spectrum was formulated for an optically anisotropic crystal under the conditions of Fourier transform microspectroscopy. The adequacy of this formulation was confirmed by comparison of calculated interference fringes with those observed in polarized absorbance spectra of optically anisotropic crystal. In accordance with the formulated absorbance, an experimental constraint for the correct measurement of polarized IR absorbance spectrum of optically anisotropic crystal is proposed. Under this experimental constraint, polarized IR absorbance spectra of quartz from Arkansas were measured. They show that the orientation of OH^- dipole which compensates the charge balance coupled with Al³⁺ in quartz is highly polarized perpendicular to the c-axis.