Polarization Filters: What are They & Where to Learn More

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Catch22meifucan
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Polarization
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the composition and functioning of polarization filters, with a focus on their materials and applications. Participants seek to clarify the nature of these filters and request resources for further learning.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that polarization filters may consist of organic molecules aligned in thin rows, questioning the accuracy of this claim and seeking resources for further understanding.
  • Another participant acknowledges that some filters might be made this way for specialized applications, but indicates that typical sunglasses and camera filters do not generally use this method.
  • A participant challenges the assertion about the makeup of filters, asking how they can be based on Brewster's angle given their thinness, and expresses confusion over the explanation provided in a referenced Wikipedia article.
  • Another participant provides details about modern Polaroid film, stating it consists of aligned polymers impregnated with iodine, while also noting that there are various types of polarizers, including circular polarizers used in photography and 3D glasses.
  • It is mentioned that polarizing sunglasses typically use a polarizing material similar to Polaroid but differ enough to avoid patent issues, and that infrared polarizers can be constructed using arrays of parallel wires.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the composition of polarization filters, with no consensus reached on the specifics of their makeup or the accuracy of the claims regarding their construction.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about the materials and methods used in polarization filters remain unverified, and there are unresolved questions regarding the application of Brewster's angle in the context of thin filters.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in optics, photography, materials science, and those seeking to understand the technical aspects of polarization filters may find this discussion relevant.

Catch22meifucan
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
I wanted to learn more about the makeup of polarization filter I read somewhere that they are organic molecules that are lined up in very thin rows very close to each other. Is this true and would you be able to recommend some resources to learn more about polarization filters?
 
Science news on Phys.org
Catch22meifucan said:
I wanted to learn more about the makeup of polarization filter I read somewhere that they are organic molecules that are lined up in very thin rows very close to each other. Is this true and would you be able to recommend some resources to learn more about polarization filters?

there may be some made up that way, but I'm picking they would be for specialist applications

sunglasses, and camera filters for example are in general, not

have a read here for a start...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarizer#Circular_polarizers

edit: and this link ...
https://www.quora.com/How-are-circular-polarization-filters-made

Dave
 
davenn said:
sunglasses, and camera filters for example are in general, not
Is that a fact? How are they made? They are very thin and I don't understand how they can be based on Brewster angle. (That Wiki reference glosses over that bit)
 
Catch22meifucan said:
I wanted to learn more about the makeup of polarization filter I read somewhere that they are organic molecules that are lined up in very thin rows very close to each other. Is this true and would you be able to recommend some resources to learn more about polarization filters?

Modern Polaroid film, a common polarizer, consists of aligned polymers impregnated with iodine:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polaroid_(polarizer)

But that's not the only kind of polarizer. Circular polarizers, common in photographic filters and Real-D 3D glasses https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RealD_3D) , add a quarter-wave retarder to the polarizer. Polarizing sunglasses (non-Polaroid brand) typically incorporate a polarizing material similar to Polaroid, but sufficiently different to avoid patent issues.

In infrared applications polarizers are very different, in the extreme limit (far-IR, 100um or so) arrays of parallel wires are used.

Not sure what a good reference is- what's your comfort level?
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Why adding more polarized filters results in more light passing?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
Undergrad Polarized light filtering question.
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
8K
Undergrad Non-locality by memory (Jung, 2020) applied to stochastic mechanics
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Graduate Birefringence and Automotive Window Tinting
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
9K
C# Questions on locating and characterizing facial features in C#
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Comparetto type Air Cleaner/Filter: What causes its increased airflow?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
High School Why do scientists claim that there's true randomness?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Graduate How Many Hidden Variables Would It Take to Model Photon Polarization?
  • · Replies 45 ·
2
Replies
45
Views
7K
Where to start learning mathematics for physics?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Courses Where do signal engineers go after Undergrad?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K