A number of dichroic polarizers are available, each of which can be assumed perfect, that...

A number of dichroic polarizers are available, each of which can be assumed perfect, that is, each passes 50% of the incident unpolarized light. Let the irradiance of the incident light on the first polarizer be I0.

a. Using a sketch, show that if the polarizers have their transmission axes set at angle θ apart, the light transmitted by the pair is given by

 

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b. What percentage of the incident light energy is transmitted by the pair when their transmission axes are set at 0° and 90°, respectively?

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c. Five additional polarizers of this type are placed between the two just described, with their transmission axes set at 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 75°, in that order, with the 15°-angle polarizer adjacent to the 0° polarizer, and so on. Now what percentage of the incident light energy is transmitted?