Can circularly polarized light interfere with linearly polarized

In summary, circularly polarized light can interfere with linearly polarized light because it can be thought of as a coherent sum of two orthogonal, linearly polarized waves. However, for interference to occur, the two interfering beams must be coherent and cannot be from two independent sources with incoherent phase relations. Coherence is not a determining factor, as shown through the Jones calculus.
  • #1
Albert V
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Can circularly polarized light interfere with linearly polarized light?
 
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  • #2


Yes. You can think of circularly polarized light as the coherent sum of two orthogonal, linearly polarized waves that are 90 degrees out of phase. So the other linearly polarized wave will interfere with one of the components.
 
  • #3


The two beams would have to come from splitting single beam.
 
  • #4


clem said:
The two beams would have to come from splitting single beam.

Why ?
 
  • #5


The two interfering beams must be coherent. Two independent beams would have incoherent phase relations.
 
  • #6


clem said:
The two interfering beams must be coherent. Two independent beams would have incoherent phase relations.

They can be coherent and belong to different identical sources ?
 
  • #7


Coherence is a bit of a red herring here. Do the Jones calculus and you can see quite clearly that a CP wave and a LP wave can interfere (or indeed, must interfere if they overlap spatially).

Claude.
 

What is circularly polarized light?

Circularly polarized light is a type of electromagnetic radiation in which the direction of the electric field rotates in a circular pattern as the light propagates. This is in contrast to linearly polarized light, where the electric field oscillates in a single direction.

How does circularly polarized light differ from linearly polarized light?

Circularly polarized light differs from linearly polarized light in that it has a circular rather than linear direction of polarization. Additionally, circularly polarized light is made up of both left and right-handed components, while linearly polarized light has only one direction of polarization.

Can circularly polarized light interfere with linearly polarized light?

Yes, circularly polarized light can interfere with linearly polarized light. This is because both types of light have different directions of polarization and can interact with each other, resulting in interference patterns.

How does interference between circularly polarized and linearly polarized light occur?

Interference between circularly polarized and linearly polarized light occurs when the two types of light overlap and their electric fields interact. This can result in constructive or destructive interference, depending on the relative phase and amplitude of the two waves.

What are the practical applications of interference between circularly polarized and linearly polarized light?

The interference between circularly polarized and linearly polarized light has various practical applications in optics, including in the production of 3D glasses, optical filters, and polarizing beamsplitters. It is also used in optical communication systems, where it allows for the transmission of multiple signals on the same wavelength.

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