- #1
Jimmy87
- 686
- 17
Hi pf, I am trying to find answers to the following two questions about polarization of light but am struggling to find anything:
1) When unpolarized light strikes the surface of water, some of the reflected light is horizontally polarized. I was trying to find out what causes this to happen. From other threads I have an idea. Is it because the electric dipoles in the water oscillate when they absorb the incoming light. Since they are constrained to oscillate along the plane of the water surface the re-radiated light must be polarized in this direction? If this is right, then I thought dipoles could radiate EM radiation in any direction so long as it isn't along the top or bottom of the dipole. This would give a whole range of directions to radiate from the surface would't it?
2) Polaroids consist of stretched polymers that absorb light polarized in the same direction as the polymers are arranged. What is the mechanism behind how they are absorbed like this?
Any help or links to resources is greatly appreciated!
1) When unpolarized light strikes the surface of water, some of the reflected light is horizontally polarized. I was trying to find out what causes this to happen. From other threads I have an idea. Is it because the electric dipoles in the water oscillate when they absorb the incoming light. Since they are constrained to oscillate along the plane of the water surface the re-radiated light must be polarized in this direction? If this is right, then I thought dipoles could radiate EM radiation in any direction so long as it isn't along the top or bottom of the dipole. This would give a whole range of directions to radiate from the surface would't it?
2) Polaroids consist of stretched polymers that absorb light polarized in the same direction as the polymers are arranged. What is the mechanism behind how they are absorbed like this?
Any help or links to resources is greatly appreciated!