Transcription of Lab 8: Polarization of Light - York University
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Lab 8: Polarization of Light1 IntroductionRefer to Appendix D for photos of the appara-tusPolarization is a fundamental property of Light anda very important concept of physical optics. Not allsources of Light are polarized; for instance, Light froman ordinary Light bulb is not polarized. In addition tounpolarized Light , there is partially polarized Light andtotally polarized Light . Light from a rainbow, reflectedsunlight, and coherent laser Light are examples of po-larized Light . There are three different types of po-larization states: linear, circular and elliptical. Eachof these commonly encountered states is characterizedby a differing motion of the electric field vector withrespect to the direction of propagation of the lightwave. It is useful to be able to differentiate betweenthe different types of Polarization .
Light is a transverse electromagnetic wave. Its prop-agation can therefore be explained by recalling the properties of transverse waves. Picture a transverse wave as traced by a point that oscillates sinusoidally in a plane, such that the direction of oscillation is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave.
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