Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026

Stable DNA Motifs, 1D and 2D Nanostructures Constructed from Small Circular DNA Molecules
Published on: April 12, 2019
Linear birefringence magnitude of artificial self-assembled DNA crystals
Anni Lehmuskero1, Nina Hakulinen2, Hanna Lajunen1
1University of Eastern Finland, Department of Physics and Mathematics, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland.
Abstract:
We determine the linear birefringence magnitude, i.e. the difference between refractive indexes along the extraordinary and ordinary axes, of artificial uniaxial DNA crystals assembled with the so-called DNA tile approach. Based on the ellipsometric measurements, the birefringence magnitude is between 0.001 and 0.0018 in the visible and near infrared range. Besides being of fundamental interest, the optical properties of DNA crystals are crucial in the design of novel photonic nanostuctures.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Determination of Crystal Structures
X-ray Crystallography
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...

