Zero-THz polarisation band of metal acetylacetonates

Abstract

The “anomalous polarisation” of certain metal acetyl acetonates is evaluated between radio and submillimetre frequencies for the series Be(AcAc)₂, Al(AcAc)₃, Fe(AcAc)₃, Cr(AcAc)₃ and Zr(AcAc)₄ in benzene solution. The compounds exhibit a loss peak at ≈ 8 mm, whose cross-section is small for the beryllium compound and increases in the above sequence. The total polarisation may thus be conveniently divided into this part and a virtually constant portion spanning the frequency region from 4 to ≈ 200 cm^–1. The “anomalous” polarisation may thus be described adequately in conventional terms.