Double refraction phenomenon of electrorhological fluids

In this paper, the adjustable double refraction phenomenon of Electrorhological fluids (ERF) was investigated. The measurements have been made of He-Ne laser through suspension of silica and pentaerythrite in silicone oil. When electric field was applied perpendicular to the laser beam, it was found that no light gets through the pair of perpendicular polarizing plate and analyzer plate without electric field. But when ERF is brought to bear electric field, the transmission light intensity increases with the electric field to be rising. For ERF of the same material, the double refraction phenomenon is more obviously to the low concentration. It is thought that the double refraction phenomenon of ERF is due to the fact that the particles link together to form thin chains or thick columns.