Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Polarized Light: Analysis and Reflection

Description

This lecture presents the analysis of polarized light passing through a wave plate and being polarized again, with a perpendicular axis. The instructor explains the components of light intensity, the angle formed by the wave plate, and the change of reference frame to simplify the analysis. By applying the concept of changing components when passing through the plate, the light is polarized in a different direction, resulting in a final intensity balance of 1.5 after passing through the second polarizer.

This video is available exclusively on Mediaspace for a restricted audience. Please log in to MediaSpace to access it if you have the necessary permissions.

Watch on Mediaspace

Official source

Related concepts (15)

Polarization (physics)

Polarization (also polarisation) is a property of transverse waves which specifies the geometrical orientation of the oscillations. In a transverse wave, the direction of the oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of motion of the wave. A simple example of a polarized transverse wave is vibrations traveling along a taut string (see image); for example, in a musical instrument like a guitar string. Depending on how the string is plucked, the vibrations can be in a vertical direction, horizontal direction, or at any angle perpendicular to the string.

Circular polarization

In electrodynamics, circular polarization of an electromagnetic wave is a polarization state in which, at each point, the electromagnetic field of the wave has a constant magnitude and is rotating at a constant rate in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the wave. In electrodynamics, the strength and direction of an electric field is defined by its electric field vector. In the case of a circularly polarized wave, the tip of the electric field vector, at a given point in space, relates to the phase of the light as it travels through time and space.

Linear polarization

In electrodynamics, linear polarization or plane polarization of electromagnetic radiation is a confinement of the electric field vector or magnetic field vector to a given plane along the direction of propagation. The term linear polarization (French: polarisation rectiligne) was coined by Augustin-Jean Fresnel in 1822. See polarization and plane of polarization for more information. The orientation of a linearly polarized electromagnetic wave is defined by the direction of the electric field vector.

Elliptical polarization

In electrodynamics, elliptical polarization is the polarization of electromagnetic radiation such that the tip of the electric field vector describes an ellipse in any fixed plane intersecting, and normal to, the direction of propagation. An elliptically polarized wave may be resolved into two linearly polarized waves in phase quadrature, with their polarization planes at right angles to each other. Since the electric field can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise as it propagates, elliptically polarized waves exhibit chirality.

Polarizer

A polarizer or polariser (see spelling differences) is an optical filter that lets light waves of a specific polarization pass through while blocking light waves of other polarizations. It can filter a beam of light of undefined or mixed polarization into a beam of well-defined polarization, that is polarized light. The common types of polarizers are linear polarizers and circular polarizers. Polarizers are used in many optical techniques and instruments, and polarizing filters find applications in photography and LCD technology.

Related lectures (33)

Polarization of Light: Techniques and Applications

Explores the generation, manipulation, and applications of polarized light using techniques like polarizers and wave plates.

Birefringence and Polarization

Explores birefringence in optics, polarizing light using materials with two refractive indices, and manipulating polarization states with wave plates and retarders.

Polarisation and Current Sources: Overview MOOC: Electronics II

Explores polarization of bipolar transistors, operating points, temperature sensitivity, and feedback loops in electronics.

Polarisation of Photons

Explores photon polarisation, including linear, circular, and elliptical polarisation concepts.

Elliptical Polarization: Generation and Interpretation Log in to Mediaspace to watch this video