Question

Linearly polarized along x 0 Linearly polarized along y 0 Linearly polarized at angle α (measured from the x-axis) cos α sin α Right circularly polarized Left circularly polarized Table 6.1 Jones Vectors for several common polarization states. Screen Shot 2018-12-03 at 11.14.25 AM Search (a) Suppose that linearly polarized light is oriented at an angle α with respect to the horizontal or x-axis (see table 6.1). What fraction of the original intensity gets through a vertically oriented polarizer? (b) If the original light is right-circularly polarized, what fraction of the original intensity gets through the same polarizer? P6.5

Answer 1

According to Malls law, when a linearly polarized light incident on a polarizer with an angle theta with the transmission axis of polarizer, the intensity of out coming light (linearly polarized) I = I_0 cos^2 theta Here theta = 90 degree - alpha, so, I = I_) sin^2 alpha [I_0: Intensity of incident light] Right circularly polarized light becomes linearly polarized light when it incident on a linear polarized and passes through it. The intensity of the light also changes. For right circularly polarized light, E_x = E_0 cos alpha, E_y = E_0 sin alpha Matrix, E = E_0/squareroot 2 [cos alpha -i sin alpha] Intensity, I_0 = E. E^+ = 1/2 E^2_0 (cos^2 alpha + sin^2 alpha) only E_y can pass through the polarized as E_x makes 90 degree angle with transmission axis (y). For out coming light, matrix E' = E_0/squareroot 2 [0 -i sin alpha] Intensity of out coming light I = E' . E^'+ = 1/2 E^2_0 sin^2 alpha