- #1
alfredblase
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A linearly polarized photon passes through a quarter waveplate that is free to rotate and is aligned at 45 degrees to the polarizaton direction,,,
The wave plate will acquire an angular momentum,,, [Walborn, Cunha, Padua and Monken 2002, Physical review A, 65, 033818-1]
This means that energy is transferred from the photon to the plate, and that therefore the photon loses energy,, Am I correct in saying this?
Next question:
Now the same thing experiment is done but the wave plate is not free to rotate,, the photon will undergo exactly the same change as before, [i,e it will change from linearly polarized to circularly polarized],,
Would I be right in saying that the photon again loses energy by applying a torque to the plate? If not please explain in detail the difference between the first scenario and the second [refering to the physics],,
Help would be much appreciated
The wave plate will acquire an angular momentum,,, [Walborn, Cunha, Padua and Monken 2002, Physical review A, 65, 033818-1]
This means that energy is transferred from the photon to the plate, and that therefore the photon loses energy,, Am I correct in saying this?
Next question:
Now the same thing experiment is done but the wave plate is not free to rotate,, the photon will undergo exactly the same change as before, [i,e it will change from linearly polarized to circularly polarized],,
Would I be right in saying that the photon again loses energy by applying a torque to the plate? If not please explain in detail the difference between the first scenario and the second [refering to the physics],,
Help would be much appreciated
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