Unpolarising Light: Can You 'Rescatter' the E and B Fields?

[KingBigness]

When light is emitted from a source it is nearly always unpolarised meaning the E and B fields lie in randomly directed mutually perpendicular planes. When Light goes through a polarising filter it causes the fields to uniform mutually perpendicular planes.

My question is however, once light is polarised can you 'unpolarise' the light? In otherwords can you 'rescatter' the E and B fields?

 

[Matterwave]

Sure, reflect the light off a (jaggedy) surface should do the trick.

 

[Cantstandit]

Isn't reflected light always polarised?

 

[Andy Resnick]

When light is emitted from a source it is nearly always unpolarised meaning the E and B fields lie in randomly directed mutually perpendicular planes. When Light goes through a polarising filter it causes the fields to uniform mutually perpendicular planes.

My question is however, once light is polarised can you 'unpolarise' the light? In otherwords can you 'rescatter' the E and B fields?

Converting fully polarized light to randomly polarized light is not trivial and generally requires multiple scattering (either from a rough surface, a pair of counter-rotating ground glass plates, or something called a 'scrambler' http://www.klccgo.com/cqmscramb.htm).

 

[sardar]

I can provide some insight into this question. The short answer is yes, it is possible to "unpolarise" light and "rescatter" the E and B fields. This phenomenon is known as depolarization and occurs when polarized light passes through a material that causes the orientation of the E and B fields to become randomized again.

One common example of depolarization is when polarized light passes through a transparent material, such as glass or plastic. The material's molecules can cause the E and B fields to become randomly oriented, resulting in a loss of polarization. Another example is when polarized light passes through a rough surface, which can also cause the fields to become randomized.

Depolarization can also occur when polarized light travels through certain types of media, such as biological tissues or aerosols in the atmosphere. In these cases, the interactions between the light and the particles in the medium can cause the E and B fields to become scrambled.

It is important to note that the degree of depolarization can vary depending on the material or medium through which the light is passing. Some materials may cause minimal depolarization, while others can completely "rescatter" the E and B fields and restore the light to an unpolarized state.

In terms of practical applications, depolarization can be both beneficial and problematic. On one hand, it can be useful in certain imaging techniques, such as polarized microscopy, where depolarization can reveal more information about the sample being studied. On the other hand, in telecommunications and fiber optics, depolarization can cause signal loss and distortion.

In conclusion, as a scientist, I can confirm that it is possible to "rescatter" the E and B fields and "unpolarize" light through the phenomenon of depolarization. This process can occur through various interactions with materials and media, and its effects can have both positive and negative impacts in different applications.