rwooduk
- 757
- 59
I finally understand the principle of being able to imagine light as having 2 perpendicular components of electric field, to use an analogy from an earlier thread, its just as a weight on a slope may be considered to have 2 componants.
Anyway, for this example nx = ny = no and nz = ne. Light is traveling in the y direction therefore the perpendicular E components will be subject to nx and ne i.e. there will be birefringence.
My question is the question asks for Δn and I am unsure what this means. Do I just find a term for nx - ne?
Please see attached images to visualise the problem, 1 shows the problem, 2 shows the working for a similar problem, thanks in advance.
p.s. this is not part of any assessed homework
Anyway, for this example nx = ny = no and nz = ne. Light is traveling in the y direction therefore the perpendicular E components will be subject to nx and ne i.e. there will be birefringence.
My question is the question asks for Δn and I am unsure what this means. Do I just find a term for nx - ne?
Please see attached images to visualise the problem, 1 shows the problem, 2 shows the working for a similar problem, thanks in advance.
p.s. this is not part of any assessed homework
Attachments
![Handwritten-style set of equations titled Eqn. for ellipse: equation [1] y'^2/n_o^2 + z'^2/n_e^2 = 1, [2] y'/n_e(θ) = cos θ, [3] z'/n_e(θ) = sin θ, and a boxed result 1/n_e^2(θ) = cos^2 θ/n_o^2 + sin^2 θ/n_e^2.](/data/attachments/57/57397-a7ddaf3bc397d899d634c6ad809e8cb1.jpg?hash=p92vO8OX2J)