The observation on the double refraction phenomenon of electrorheological fluids

In this paper, the adjustable double refraction phenomenon of Electrorheological 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 is found that no light got through the pair of perpendicular polaroids without electric field. But when ERF brought to bear electric field, the transmission light intensity increases with the electric field. For ERF of the same material, the double refraction phenomenon is more obviously to the low density and the double refraction phenomenon of ERF was due to the particles linking together to form thin chains or thick columns.