wang
(Wang)
#1
Figure 1: Polarizer and analyzer set-up
A more elaborate tool is abirefringent plate, which may again be inserted into the beam
and orthogonally to it, and which now transmits light which is polarized parallel to the
optical axis along one path, but transmits light polarized perpendicularly to the optical axis
along a different path.
Figure 2: Polarizer and birefringent plate set-up
Light emerging from the polarizer with polarization angleθand intensityN, will be split by
the birefringent plate into two beams: one polarized along thex-direction, the other along
they-direction. The intensities of these beams may be measured by two detectorsDxand
Dy, and are found to be,
Nx = Ncos^2 θ
Ny = Nsin^2 θ (2.3)
Here, we are assuming an idealized birefringent plate, for which no light intensity is lost
during transmission, so thatN=Nx+Ny. Note that a birefringent plate may be converted
into a polarizer by dumping one of its exit beams.
