Circular polarization through a linear polarizer

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A circularly polarized wave, when passing through a linear polarizer, experiences a reduction in intensity by half. This occurs because the circular polarization can be decomposed into two linear polarizations that are 90 degrees out of phase. When the polarizer is aligned with one of these linear polarizations, the other is lost, resulting in the intensity decrease. The outcome is consistent regardless of the polarizer's orientation due to the arbitrary nature of the decomposition. Thus, the intensity of the wave is indeed halved after passing through the linear polarizer.
groopion1
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Hi:smile:
I have a question about a circularly polarized wave.
Once this wave passes through a linear polarizer - how is the wave intensity changed?
Someone has told me that the intensity decreases to its half value, but I’ve read somewhere the intensity is not changed…
So… what is the answer and why?
Thank u!
 
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It decreases by half. You can decompose a circularly polarized wave into the summation of two linear polarizations at normal directions (but with different phase of 90 degrees). Align the polarizer with one of the linear polarizations and you can see that you lose one of the polarizations. Since the way you decompose the wave is arbitrary, this is valid for all orientations of the polarizer.
 
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