Circularly polarized light of intensity through a polariser

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of circularly polarized light when it passes through a polarizer, specifically addressing the resulting intensity of plane polarized light and the governing expressions. Participants explore the implications of Malus's law and the effects of polarization on light intensity.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking, Exploratory

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants question the meaning of the angle in Malus's law and its relevance when circularly polarized light is involved. There is discussion about whether the intensity of polarized light consistently halves when passing through a polarizer, and if this applies to unpolarized light as well.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants sharing insights about the nature of light polarization and its effects. Some guidance has been offered regarding the intensity of transmitted light, but there is no explicit consensus on the implications of the angle or the generalization of intensity reduction.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating assumptions about the angle between polarizers and the nature of light being polarized. There is also a request for information on materials that produce different types of polarized light, indicating a broader interest in the topic.

Amith2006
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Sir,
A circularly polarised light of intensity I is passed through a polariser resulting in the production of plane polarised light.What is the intensity of the plane polarised light? What is the expression which governs this effect?The formula that I know is I' = I cos^2x(Mallus law).Here the symbol ^ represents power.But in this case the angle between the plane of transmission of the analyser and the plane of polariser is not given.Please explain.
 
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What is x in the equation you quoted?

Claude.
 
The result of passing circularly polarized light through a plane polarizer is the same as it would be for originally unpolarized light. The transmitted light is plane polarized wilth half the intensity of the original light. There is no dependence on the angle (I assume it to be your x) until the now plane polarized light passes through a second plane polarizer.
 
Sir,
Can I take that each time a polarised light passes through a polariser its intensity becomes half?Is it also applicable to unpolarised light?
 
"The result of passing circularly polarized light through a plane polarizer is the same as it would be for originally unpolarized light. The transmitted light is plane polarized wilth half the intensity of the original light. "
 
Meir Achuz said:
"The result of passing circularly polarized light through a plane polarizer is the same as it would be for originally unpolarized light. The transmitted light is plane polarized wilth half the intensity of the original light. "

Sir,
Could you please tell me materials which produce plane,circular and elliptically polarised light?
 
There are a number of ways to polarize light.
Land's first invention (before the camera) was "polaroid", a material that only let light plane poloarized in one direction pass through.
Plane polarization can also be produced by scattering off a flat surface at angles close to arctan(n2/n1).
Circular and elliptical polarization can be produced by "optically active" crystals that have different indices of refraction in different directions.
There are other ways that get a bit more complicated.
 
Thank you Sir for clearing my doubt.
 
hi ,
i want to know if anybody can point me to some microscopic model which explains why light bends at the interface of 2 media? i am not asking for an exact mathematical model (although such a thing would be nice). an well founded physical explanation would be enough for me.
 

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