PRODUCTION OF POLARIZED LIGHT

1. Plane polarized light:

Un-polarized light Plane ppolarized light
g

2. Circularly polarized light:

Un-polarized light Plane polarized light

Vibration makes 450
angle with optic axis.
3. Elliptically polarized light: QWP

Elliptically
p y
polarized

Un polarized light
Un-polarized Plane polarized light
Vibration makes angle other
than 450.
 ANALYSIS OF POLARIZED LIGHT

1. Plane polarized light:

2. Circularly polarized light:

No variation in - It may be a un
intensity. polarized or
- It may be a circularly
polarized light
If variation in intensity is like
plane
l polarized
l i d light
li ht original
i i l
light is circularly polarized.
QWP Otherwise, original light is
un-polarized.
3. Elliptically polarized light:

Variation of intensityy - It may be a partially

from a maximum to polarized or
minimum - It may be an elliptically
polarized light

If variation in intensity is like

plane polarized light original
light is elliptical polarized.
QWP Otherwise, original
g light
g is
un-polarized.
 Scheme of analysis of a given beam of light 
Given beam of light 
Incident on a rotating nicol prism

Variation in intensity with Variation in intensity with No Variation in intensity

minimum non zero minimum zero Coclusion: Given light is either
Coclusion: Given light is either Coclusion: Given light is circularly polarized or
elliptically polarized or partially plane polarized unpolarized.
polarized

Incident on a QWP with optic axis || to the

pass axis off the analyzing
p y g nicol at the Incident on a QWP in any position and
position of maximum intensity and then then examined by rotating nicol prism
examined by rotating nicol prism

Variation in intensity with Variation in intensity Variation in intensity No Variation in

minimum zero with minimum non zero with minimum zero intensity
Coclusion: elliptically Coclusion: partially Coclusion: circularly  Coclusion:
polarized polarized polarized  unpolarized.
 DISTINGUISH BETWEEN CPL, UPL AND
A MIXTURE OF (CPL
(CPL+UPL)
UPL)

CPL PPL 2 Max 2 Min

(zero intensity)

QWP

UPL UPL No change

in intensity

CPL+UPL PPL+UPL 2 Max 2 Min

(non-zero
intensity)
y)
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN EPL, PARTIALLY PL(PPL+UPL)
AND A MIXTURE OF (EPL
(EPL+UPL)
UPL)

Given light
g 2 Max 2 Min Now set QWP with
(note the position its optic axis parallel
of maxima) to the maxima
Thus optic axis of QWP is now parallel to either major axis of EPL
or electric field vector of PPL
EPL PPL 2 Max 2 Min
(zero intensity)

2 Max 2 non-zero
PPL+UPL PPL+UPL
Min with original
position of maxima

EPL+UPL PPL+UPL 2 Max 2 non-zero

Min with changed
position of maxima
QWP
 DISTINGUISH QWP, HWP AND SIMPLE GLASS PLATE
USINF TWO NICOL PRISMS

UPL PPL 2 Max 2 Min

(zero intensity)
Note position
UPL PPL PPL 2 Max 2 Min
(zero intensity)
Same position
GP
UPL PPL EPL 2 Max 2 Min
(non-zero
intensity)
QWP
UPL PPL PPL 2 Max 2 Min
(zero intensity)
With rotated changed position
HWP plane of vibration