Polarization___________________________
THE POLARIZATION OF LIGHT
Theoretical Approach
In figure 1, mechanical transverse waves sent along a rope pass through a slot. Under
these circumstances, waves can be sent along the rope only if the waves are
generated parallel to the direction of the slot. Each slot permits only
those waves with the proper orientation to pass through. The waves are said to be
polarized in a particular plane or plane polarized. Vertically polarized waves cannot
pass through an horizontal polarizer ( Fig.1.)
Before the introduction of the electromagnetic theory, light was assumed to be a
longitudinal wave disturbance. Electromagnetic theory predicts that light is a transverse
wave. From interference and diffraction experiments, we can infer nothing concerning
the transverse nature of light. Only polarization theory and experiments can support
the theoretical electromagnetic prediction that light waves are transverse.
Fresnel observed that a beam of light falling on a calcite crystal (CaCO 3) was
separated into two beams that were incapable of producing interference fringes (Fig.2).
Young suggested that this could be explained by assuming that light consisted
of transverse waves that were separated into component waves having oscillating
planes at right angles to each other. He called this a plane polarization effect, and the
phenomenon is called double refraction. The ordinary wave (o-wave) travels in the
crystal with the same speed vo in all directions, the crystal having a single index of
refraction no. The extraordinary wave (e-wave) travels in the crystal with a speed that
is greater than vo. The index of refraction (c/ve) has a smaller value ne. Several doubly
refracting crystals, other than calcite, are:
ice (H2O); quartz (SiO2); wurzite (ZnS); dolomite (CaO.MgO.2Co2); siderite (Fe.CO2)
Fig. 3 shows an electromagnetic plane-polarized wave.
The vibrations of the E vector are parallel to each other for all points in the wave. At any
such a point, E and the direction of propagation form a plane called plane of vibration.
In a plane polarized wave, all such planes are parallel.
The light propagated in a given direction consists of independent wavetrains
whose planes of vibration are randomly oriented about the direction of propagation.
Such light, though still transverse, is unpolarized (See Fig.4.).
Fig. 1 Polarized mechanical waves Fig. 2 Double refraction of light accross a
calcite crystal
1
Polarization___________________________
Fig.3 A plane-polarized electromagnetic wave
Fig.4 Observing polarised light
Certain crystaline substances transmit light in one plane of polarization and absorb light
in other polarization planes. Tourmaline is such a material. This property of crystals in
which one polarized component of incident light is absorbed and the other is
transmitted is called dichroism. Dichroic crystals of quinine iodosulphate transmit plane
polarized light very efficiently but the crystals are too small for practical use. There is a
method of embedding these crystals in cellulose films so that the dichroic properties of
the crystal are retained. This polarizing film is known commercially as Polaroid.
Ordinary light incident obliquely on the surface of a glass plate is partly reflected
and partly refracted. Both the transmitted and the reflected beams are partly polarized
(Fig. 5.).
2
Polarization___________________________
The component of the incident light lying in the plane parallel to the surface of the glass
is largely reflected. The component in the plane perpendicular to the surface is largely
refracted. A particular angle af incidence at
which polarization of the reflected light is
complete, known as the polarization angle,
can be found experimentally.
Fig.5 Partly polarized reflected and
refracted light beams Fig. 6 Transmission and refraction of light
trough a calcite crystal
Calcite crystals (Iceland spar) are sometimes polished, cut through and
cemented back together in such a way that one of the polarized beams is totally
reflected at the cemented face. Such a crystal, known as a Nicol prism, can be used to
produce aa beam of completely polarized light (Fig.6)
While rotating the Nicol about the incident ray, the plane of vibration is also rotated.
If a bunch of natural light rays passes through a polarizer, prior to pass through
an analizer, the intensity of the emerged ray is given by the law of Malus:
I I 0 cos 2
being the angle between the planes of vibration of light before and after the analizer, Io
- the intensity of light entering the analizer.
Experimental Procedure
3
Fig.7 The device used for polarisation
Polarization___________________________
The scheme of the
device used is presented in
fig. 7. Light from the source S
reaches the polarizer N. The
Nicol can be rotated about a
vertical axis and the resulted
light can be analized by the
analizer A ( a plane mirror
mounted at
45 o).
The intensity of the reflected light is measured by means of a photosensitive cell
which generates electrical currents proportional to the intensity of the luminous flux
incidental on the cathode.The photocell is placed in the focus of a lens L.
The Nicol tube has to be rotated about a vertical axis, 30o by 30o up to 360o and the
intensity of the resulted current will be measured for each position of the Nicol. Results
will be recorded in the data table.
Data table
(0) 0 30 60 90 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 360
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
I exp A
I calc A
where, I calc (I exp ) max cos
2
One plots I exp f ( ) and I calc f ( ) in polar coordinates.
0 0
