Undergrad Does a Polarizer Alter the Shape of Airy Disks in Optical Systems?

  • Thread starter Thread starter zincshow
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Effects Polarizer
Click For Summary
Using a polarizer in front of a pinhole does not change the shape of an airy disk, as scalar diffraction is sufficient for a circular aperture. However, if a lens or focusing mirror is involved, the situation becomes more complex, and vector diffraction may alter the disk's shape, especially with a large numerical aperture. The discussion emphasizes the importance of the aperture type and the diffraction model used. Testing with a telescope and lunar filter could provide practical insights. Overall, the impact of a polarizer is contingent on the optical setup used.
zincshow
Messages
103
Reaction score
0
When an airy disk is formed, does using a polarizer in front of the pinhole change the shape of the disk?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
zincshow said:
When an airy disk is formed, does using a polarizer in front of the pinhole change the shape of the disk?
No responses? Well I'm going to guess yes, and hourglass shaped. I might be able to test this for you with my telescope and a lunar filter...
 
It shouldn't make any difference. The far field diffraction pattern is just the Fourier transform of the aperture function, which in this case is a circular hole. Unless there's spatially varying polarisation in the incident radiation.

I'm not completely certain - I'd be interested in seeing your test, Russ.
 
  • Like
Likes russ_watters
zincshow said:
When an airy disk is formed, does using a polarizer in front of the pinhole change the shape of the disk?

If it just a pinhole aperture, then no, scalar diffraction suffices. If you are using a lens (or focusing mirror), then yes, especially if the numerical aperture is large. Vector diffraction is considerably more complex than scalar diffraction, here's a few links:

https://www.osapublishing.org/josaa/abstract.cfm?URI=josaa-35-4-526
https://www.osapublishing.org/oe/abstract.cfm?uri=oe-12-12-2670
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-540-48471-4_6.pdf
https://spiral.imperial.ac.uk/bitst...a high numerical aperture focusing system.pdf
 
  • Like
Likes Ibix and russ_watters
Thread 'What is the pressure of trapped air inside this tube?'

Thread 'What is the pressure of trapped air inside this tube?'

As you can see from the picture, i have an uneven U-shaped tube, sealed at the short end. I fill the tube with water and i seal it. So the short side is filled with water and the long side ends up containg water and trapped air. Now the tube is sealed on both sides and i turn it in such a way that the traped air moves at the short side. Are my claims about pressure in senarios A & B correct? What is the pressure for all points in senario C? (My question is basically coming from watching...
View full post »

Similar threads

Undergrad How Does Rotating Polarization Work in Optics Experiments?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Resolution (visual acuity) and screen discreteness
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Airy disk and resolution in confocal microscopy
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
7K
Python Numerical integration over a disk with polar coordinates
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Undergrad How to "think" of a polarizer in matrix representation?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad Plotting polar equations and scale invariance
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Graduate How Does MWI explain Type I PDC Photon Polarization Entanglement?
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
760
Moment of Inertia of a Rotating Disk
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Finite dual disk capacitor: estimating charge distribution
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Birefringence and Automotive Window Tinting
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
8K