光的偏振(Polarisation of light)

光的偏振

引言(Introduction)

Light waves are electromagnetic waves, which means they consist of both electric and magnetic fields that oscillate perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. The polarization of light is determined by the orientation of the electric field vector.

偏振片(Polarizers)

Fig 1. Linear Polarizations

Polarizing filters are a type of optical filter where the transmittance of light is directly related to its polarization state. Typically, linearly polarized light in a certain direction can pass through, while light polarized in the perpendicular direction cannot pass through, it gets absorbed or reflected in other directions.

光的偏振测试实验装置(Set-up to study the polarisation of light)

Fig 2. Set-up to study the polarisation of light

As light source either a “green” laser or a blue or white light emitting LED is used. In case of using a LED an achromat is used to form an almost parallel beam. By means of a polarisation analyser and the photodetector the intensity of the light source as function of the analyser angle is measured. As a result, three plots are created representing the polarisation of the green laser and the blue and white LED.

演示和测量马吕斯定律的实验装置(Set-up to demonstrate and measure the Malus’ Law)

Fig 3. Set-up to demonstrate and measure the Malus’ Law

By using an additional polarizer the emitted light is polarised. If the analyser angle is set to 90 degrees with respect to the polarizer the passed intensity is a minimum and for 0 degree a maximum. Between these values the transmitted intensity behind the analyser is according to the Malus’ law. This setup allows the verification of Malus’s law and demonstrates furthermore an arrangement to change the intensity of a light source without changing the operating current.

Investigating Birefringent Material（双折射材料）

Fig 3. Investigating Birefringent Material
Material which change the polarisation of transmitted light are termed as optical active. Such natural materials are for instance crystalline quartz, calcite or mica. Within the frame of the experiment three crystalline plates made of quartz and mica are used. The plates are mounted in a click mount with an index mark. The plate is placed behind the polarizer and the transmitted intensity is measured as function of the analyser angle. The resulting angular intensity plot informs about the particular optical activity.

Most polarizing beam splitters take advantage of the birefringence of transparent crystalline materials, such as quartz (SiO2), calcite (CaCO3), yttrium vanadate (YVO4), beta-barium borate (BBO) or magnesium fluoride (MgF2). Usually two materials with different optical axes pointed together are glued together (or there is a small gap in between). The device will have a polymer shell that contains a beam dump to absorb the light that cannot pass through.

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