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pinestone
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Happy new year all- Light can be rotated by a magnetic field (Faraday). Can this rotation be seen by an observer without electronic or computer methods?
As Tide points out, you can use Polaroid sunglasses or grazing reflection to tell the polarization direction of light. Would either of those fit your criteria?pinestone said:Let me refine my question: Could an observer see the effects of Faraday rotation with the un-aided eye, without the use of an electric or an electronic apparatus?
Actually, the retina has a component that is slightly sensitive to polarization. See, for example, http://polarization.com/haidinger/haidinger.html . A Google search for "Haidinger brushes" turns up other references.Tide said:As far as I know none of the physiological components involved in vision (retina, rods, cones, cornea, lens, etc.) is sensitive to the polarization of light.
I had read this reference prior to my first post, and while most people seem to have the ability to see these images, not everyone can.jtbell said:Actually, the retina has a component that is slightly sensitive to polarization. See, for example, http://polarization.com/haidinger/haidinger.html . A Google search for "Haidinger brushes" turns up other references.
I'm not interested in determining the polarization of light, but I do want to know if we can see the effects of Faraday rotation itself, without using computers, electromagnetic or electronic methods. Does anyone know if this has been accomplished before or if it is even possible?berkeman said:As Tide points out, you can use Polaroid sunglasses or grazing reflection to tell the polarization direction of light. Would either of those fit your criteria?
jtbell said:Actually, the retina has a component that is slightly sensitive to polarization. See, for example, http://polarization.com/haidinger/haidinger.html . A Google search for "Haidinger brushes" turns up other references.
Faraday saw it, so I think the answer has to be yes.pinestone said:Happy new year all- Light can be rotated by a magnetic field (Faraday). Can this rotation be seen by an observer without electronic or computer methods?
...upside down?pinestone said:Would the introduction of another stage, in-line with the first, contribute to greater degrees of rotation?
For instance, 45' exiting the first rotator, and 90' exiting the second one, and so on...What would we see? A 180' shift would almost act as a reflection, wouldn't it?
pinestone said:I've experimented with variable polarizing filters before, and have seen their effect. Look at a candle flame through a thin slit in a opaque sheet. You can easly determine the top of the flame from the bottom (color). Didn't Faraday use a flame? When I first learned about his discovery of rotation, I wondered if the entire "length" of the light would rotate. I'm going to try and re-create his apparatus and see for myself. I'll post my observations and conclusions here. Thanks all-
The purpose of this exploration is to gain a better understanding of the relationship between magnetic fields and light, and how this can potentially be applied in various fields such as optics, quantum computing, and data storage.
Light is an electromagnetic wave, which means it is composed of both electric and magnetic fields. When light passes through a magnetic field, the direction of its electric and magnetic fields can be affected, resulting in a rotation of the light's polarization.
Some common techniques used to study magnetic field rotation of light include Faraday rotation, optical rotation, and the Kerr effect. These techniques involve measuring changes in the polarization of light as it interacts with a magnetic field.
Understanding the relationship between magnetic fields and light can have various practical applications. For example, it can lead to the development of more efficient optical devices, improved data storage methods, and advancements in quantum computing technology.
The start of a new year is a time for new beginnings and new discoveries. It can serve as a reminder to scientists to continue exploring and pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the world, including the relationship between magnetic fields and light.