Lecture 4: Polarization of Light

So far we have considered plane waves that look like this:

From now on just draw E and remember that B is still there:

1. Linear Polarization
The intensity of a wave
does not depend on its
polarization:

I   0c E 2
  0 c Ex2  E y2
  0c  Ex2  E y2 

  0cE02 sin 2 (kz  t   ) (sin 2   cos 2  )

12 1
1
So I   0 cE02 Just like before
2
 2. Polarizers. Malus Law

The molecular structure of a polarizer causes the component of

the E field perpendicular to the Transmission Axis to be absorbed.
 3. Right or Left ???

There is no reason that  has to be the same for Ex and Ey:

Making x different from y causes circular or elliptical polarization:

Example:
 At t=0
x   y  90 
2
  45   4

E0
Ex  cos(kz  t )
2
E0
Ey  sin(kz  t )
2 RCP
Physics 212 Lecture 24, Slide 7
Q: How do we change
the relative phase
between Ex and Ey?

A: Birefringence
Two refraction index

By picking the right

thickness we can change
the relative phase by
exactly 90o.
This changes linear to
circular polarization
and is called a
quarter wave plate
 Right Handed Circular Polarization
This modification (at t = 0)
does not
change the
intensity either:

I   0c E 2

  0 c Ex2  E y2

E02
  0c sin 2 (kz  t )  cos 2 (kz  t )
2

1
1
So I   0 cE02 Just like before
2
 4. Applications
1. Liquid Crystal Displays
2. 3D cinema

3. Saccharimeter
4. Microscopic Polarization Apparatus
 Executive Summary:
Polarizers & QW Plates:
Polarized Light Circularly or Un-polarized Light

Birefringence RCP
E0
Ex  cos(kx)
2

E0
Ey  sin(kx)
2
 A B

½l
Z Z
 A B

RCP
1/4 l
Z
 Calculation
Light is incident on two linear polarizers and a quarter wave plate (QWP) as shown.

What is the intensity I3 in terms of I1?

45o fast
y
x

60o

I1
I2
I3 z

• Conceptual Analysis
• Linear Polarizers: absorbs E field component perpendicular to TA
• Quarter Wave Plates: Shifts phase of E field components in fast-slow
directions
• Strategic Analysis
• Determine state of polarization and intensity reduction after each object
• Multiply individual intensity reductions to get final reduction.
 Calculation
Light is incident on two linear polarizers and a quarter wave plate (QWP) as shown.

45o fast
y
x E1 RCP
Ex E
y 60o

I1
l/4
I2
I3 z

• What is the polarization of the light after the QWP?

y y
(A) LCP (B) RCP (C) x (D) x (E) unpolarized

Light incident on QWP is linearly Light will be circularly

polarized at 45o to fast axis polarized after QWP
LCP or RCP? Easiest way: Curl fingers of RH back to front
Right Hand Rule: Thumb points in dir of propagation RCP
if right hand polarized.
 Calculation
Light is incident on two linear polarizers and a quarter wave plate (QWP) as shown.

45o fast
y
x E1 RCP
Ex E
y 60o

I1
l/4
I2
I3 z

• What is the intensity I2 of the light after the QWP?

(A) I2 = I1 (B) I2 = ½ I1 (C) I2 = ¼ I1

BEFORE: No absorption: Just a phase change ! AFTER:

E1 E1
cos(kz  t )
Ex 
2
sin(kz  t )
I   0c  E  E 
2
x
2
y
Ex 
2
E E1
E y  1 sin(kz  t ) Ey  sin(kz  t )
2 Same before & after ! 2
 Calculation
Light is incident on two linear polarizers and a quarter wave plate (QWP) as shown.

45o fast
y
x E1 RCP
Ex E
y 60o
E3
I1
l/4
I2 = I1 z
I3

• What is the polarization of the light after the 60o polarizer?

y y
60o 60o
(A) LCP (B) RCP (C) x (D) x (E) unpolarized

Absorption: only passes components of E parallel to TA ( = 60o)

Ey E3  Ex sin   E y cos E
E3  1  sin(kz  t   ) 
E3 3
2
E
60o
E3  1  cos(kz  t )sin   sin(kz  t ) cos  
2
Ex
 Calculation
Light is incident on two linear polarizers and a quarter wave plate (QWP) as shown.

45o fast
y
x E1 RCP
Ex E
y 60o
E3
I1
l/4
I2 = I1
II33 = ½ I1 z

• What is the intensity I3 of the light after the 60o polarizer?

(A) I3 = I1 (B) I3 = ½ I1 (C) I3 = ¼ I1

1
E
E3  1 I  E2 I3 
2
I1
Ey 2
E3 3

60o NOTE: This does not depend on  !!

Ex
 Follow Up 1
Replace the 60o polarizer with another QWP as shown.

45o fast
y
x E RCP slow

Ex E
y
E3
fast
I1 Ey Ex
l/4
I2 = I1 I3 z

• What is the polarization of the light after the last QWP?

y y
(A) LCP (B) RCP (C) x (D) x (E) unpolarized

Easiest way: Brings Ex and Ey back in phase !!

Efast is l/4 ahead of Eslow
 Follow Up 2
Replace the 60o polarizer with another QWP as shown.

45o fast
y
x E RCP slow

Ex E
y
E3
fast
I1 Ey Ex
l/4
I2 = I1 z
I3 = I1

• What is the intensity I3 of the light after the last QWP?

(A) I1 (B) ½ I1 (C) ¼ I1

BEFORE: No absorption: Just a phase change ! AFTER:

E1 E1
Ex  cos(kz  t ) Intensity = < E2 > Ex  cos(kz  t )
2 2
E E12 E12 E1
E y  1 sin(kz  t ) I before  I after  Ey  cos(kz  t )
2 2 2 2
 Follow Up 3
Consider light incident on two linear polarizers as shown. Suppose I2 = 1/8 I0

y
x E1
60o
E2
I0
I1
I1 = ½ I 0
I2 = 1/8 I0 z

• What is the possible polarization of the INPUT light?

(A) LCP
• After first polarizer: LP along y-axis with intensity I1
y
• After second polarizer: LP at 60o wrt y-axis
(B) x • Intensity: I2 = I1cos2(60o) = ¼ I1
45o • I2 = 1/8 I0  I1 = ½ I0
(C) unpolarized
Question is: What kind of light loses ½ of its
(D) all of above intensity after passing through vertical polarizer?

(E) none of above Answer: Everything except LP at  other than 45o

 Two Polarizers
Preflight 2

The second polarizer is orthogonal to the first

no light will come through. cos(90o) = 0

 Two Polarizers
Preflight 3

Any non-horizontal polarizer after the first polarizer

will produce polarized light AT THAT ANGLE

Part of that light will make it through the horizontal

polarizer
 A
Preflight 6
B

Case A: Case B:
Ex is absorbed (Ex,Ey) phase changed
I A  I 0 cos2 (45o )

I A  12 I 0 I B  I0
 Right circularly polarized
Do right hand rule
Fingers along slow direction
Cross into fast direction
If thumb points in direction of propagation: RCP
 Circular Light on Linear Polarizer
Q: What happens when circularly
polarized light is put through a
polarizer along the y (or x) axis ?

A) I = 0
B) I = ½ I0
C) I = I0

I   0c E 2
  0 c Ex2  X
E y2
E02
  0c cos 2 (kz  t )
2
1 1
   0 cE02 12
2 2
Half of before
 Intensity:

I   0c  Ex2  E y2 

QW Plate

Both Ex and Ey
are still there, so
intensity is the same
I   0c  Ex2  E y2 

Polarizer

Ex is missing, so
intensity is lower
 Demos:

What else can we put in there to change the polarization?