Discussion Overview
The discussion centers around the concept of polarisation of light, specifically addressing whether it is possible to 'unpolarise' light after it has been polarised, and the methods that might achieve this. The scope includes theoretical considerations and practical applications related to light behaviour and polarisation techniques.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- One participant notes that light is typically unpolarised when emitted, with E and B fields in random orientations, and questions the possibility of 'rescattering' these fields to achieve unpolarisation after polarisation.
- Another participant suggests that reflecting light off a jagged surface could potentially 'unpolarise' it.
- A different participant challenges the idea by stating that reflected light is always polarised, indicating a potential limitation in the proposed method.
- One participant reiterates the initial question about unpolarising light and adds that converting fully polarised light to randomly polarised light is complex, often requiring multiple scattering techniques, such as using rough surfaces or specific optical devices.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express differing views on the methods of unpolarising light, with some suggesting practical approaches while others question the feasibility of these methods. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the effectiveness of the proposed techniques.
Contextual Notes
There are unresolved assumptions about the conditions under which light can be unpolarised and the specific requirements for the scattering processes mentioned. The effectiveness of various methods remains uncertain.