Experimental and phenomenological aspects of circular birefringence and related properties in transparent crystals*

Here, we review the history, theory, measurement technique and experimental results on gyrotropic phenomena including optical rotation (optical activity), electrogyration, the Faraday effect and magneto-electrogyration in transparent crystals, including examples of structural phase transitions. Relations to the absolute structure are discussed and model calculations are performed on the basis of electronic polarizability and crystal structure.