OXP-13 Polarisation  

Topics

Optical Activity
Double Refraction
Polarization of Light Sources
Polarization of Scattered Light
Linear / Elliptical / Circular Polarization


Examples of Investigation and Measurement

Polarization of light sources / Malus Law
In a first experiment the polarization state of different light sources is determined. The light travelling through a polarizer is observed on a screen as a function of the orientation of the polarizer. With a second polarizer (defined as analyzer) the relative orientation of the polarizers is determined. The transmitted light is measured by a photo detector and the Malus Law can be verified.

Absolute direction of polarization
To monitor the absolute orientation of polarized light a laser beam travelling through a scattering sample is observed by looking through a polarizer.

Optical activity
In between of two crossed polarizers an optically active sample is placed. By readjusting the analyzer for total absorption the angle of rotation of the active material is determined. This angle is independent of the rotational orientation of the sample.

Half- and quarter-wave plates
The influence of half- and quarter-wave plates on polarized and non-polarized light is investigated and the difference to optical activity is demonstrated.
 
 


Required Equipment

Cat. No.     Qty.     Description
02.0300      1        Profile rail, 300 mm
02.2082      1        Mounting plate 40, rotator, space block, carrier 20 mm
02.2132      1        Mounting plate, click 30, carrier 20
02.6106      1        Adjustment holder, 4 axes, carrier 20
04.0060      1        Plano convex lens f=40 mm, 25.4, click 30
04.0110      1        Quarter wave plate, click 25
04.0111      1        Optical quartz plate, click 25
04.0112      1        Half wave plate, click 25
04.0180      1        Acrylic polarisation monitor
05.0030      1        High brightness LED lamp, white
05.0032      1        High brightness LED lamp, red
05.0226      1        DIMO 532 (green)
07.0206      1        Active power supply LDD-05
09.0044      1        Polarisation analyser, mounting plate, rotation assembly
09.2310      1        Polarisation assembly
09.2320      1        Set of mounts for polarisation experiment
19.0400      1        Digital multimeter 3 ½ digits