Wave Optics 6.
1 Polarization
Polarized Light Polarization by absorption Polarization by reflection Polarization by scattering Geometric Optics Light rays move in straight lines.
Okay for interaction with objects much larger than the wavelength
Wave Optics Light propagates as spherical waves.
Describes interactions with objects with the same size as the wavelength.
Wave Properties of Light
Wave optics or Physical optics is the study of the wave properties of light. Some wave properties are: Interference, diffraction, and polarization. These properties have useful applications in optical devices such as compact discs, diffraction gratings, polarizers.
Polarization
Polarized light has it E field in one direction. Light is normally unpolarized Light can be polarized by several different processes
Absorption Polaroid filter Reflection Brewsters angle Scattering Light from the sky
Polarized light has many applications
Polaroid sunglasses, Polarization microscopy, liquid crystal display.
Light is a transverse wave
Polarized and un-polarized light
A plane wave with Electric field in the y direction Unpolarized Light has E field at any instant can have E in any direction. Polarized Light has E field in a certain direction
Polarization by absorption
Ey Ez un-polarized Ez Polaroid film for an ideal polarizer the intensity is reduced by 1/2 polarized
I polarized = 1 Iunpolarized 2
Polarized light passing through a polarizer at angle
Eo Eo cos parallel component transmitted Eo cos Esin
Oriented molecules absorb light with E along y direction
But I E2 Therefore transmitted intensity I = Iocos2
Polarized light passing though a polarizer
The angle of polarization changes
Two polarizers
I=Io cos2
Io
Io cos2 =0 =45o =90o
Crossed-polarizers
Decrease in intensity when polarized light passes through a polarizer Law of Malus
I= Io cos2
Example
Un-polarized light is incident upon two polarizers that have their polarization axes at an angle of 45o. If the incident light intensity is Iowhat is the final intensity? 45o
Polarization by reflection
Un-polarized light can be polarized by reflection at a specific polarization angle p (Brewsters angle)
p p Fully polarized n1 n2
Un-polarized Io
Io 2
I=
Io cos2 2
Io I 1 I cos2 45 = o = o 2 2 2 4
n tan p = 2 n1
Polarization by reflection
E is to plane of incidence This E component is absent
Example
Suppose you wanted to have fully polarized light by reflection at the air water interface. What conditions would you use? What would be the direction of the polarized E field?
p n1 =1.00
Angle of incidence equal to the polarizing angle
tan p = p = 53o
n2 = 1.333 n1
n2 =1.333 Reflected beam is Fully polarized
Reflected beam is Partially polarized
E would be to the plane of incidence.
Polarization by reflection
Polarization by scattering
A transverse wave has no E field in the direction of propagation Scattering particle has oscillations partially polarized in the plane to the direction of propagation
no filter
polarizing filter
observer
The reflected light is polarized -
scattered light is partially polarized with E field to the direction of propagation of the incident light
Polarization of light by air
Polarization of scattered light
Light from the sky is partially polarized
no filter
polarizing filter
Applications- Crossed Polarizers
Crossed polarizers used to detect materials that rotate the plane of polarized light (optically active materials) including many biological materials and materials under mechanical stress
Applications Liquid crystal display (LCD)
Oriented molecules rotate the plane of the polarized light
When an electric field is applied the molecules reorient so that the light is not rotated.
