Optical anisotropy in fullerene-containing polymer composites induced by magnetic field

Using water-soluble hydrated fullerenes embedded in a polyvinyl alcohol matrix, samples were obtained that demonstrated the presence of optical anisotropy when they were formed in a magnetic field. Its existence was established in experiments on light scattering in films containing C$_{60}$(OH)$_{n}$ and C$_{70}$(OH)$_{m}$ molecules. The mechanism of the effect is presumably associated with the anisotropy of the shape of these molecules.