PE-0200 Polarisation of light

Topics:

  • Optical Activity

  • Double Refraction

  • Polarization of Light Sources

  • Elliptical, Circular Polarized Light

  • LED Light Source

  • Green Laser

  • Quartz Retarder Plate

  • Mica Retarder Plate

  • Photodetector

  • Light Power Control

  • Malus' Law

The image shows the experimental setup of LE-0200 "Polarisation of Light"
PE-0200 Polarisation of Light

In the year 1809, Etienne Malus discovered the polarization of light by reflection and stated a law which describes the intensity distribution of polarized light as a function of the relative orientation of a polarization analyser. At that time his findings were in contradiction to the presumption of light waves being longitudinal rather than transversal. His discovery had far reaching consequences for the wave theory of light, and his unambiguous experimental results launched a big debate, among the leading scientists about the wave properties of light. Finally, as a compromise light was conceded to have transversal as well as longitudinal character. Two years later Dominique Arago investigated a sample of quartz and discovered its optical activity, a property of many natural and also synthetic materials. Later on, Augustine Fresnel could explain the effect of optical active materials on light by introducing the phenomenon of circular birefringence. In this series of experiments the polarization state of the light sources in use is determined. Furthermore, polarized light is used to prove the Malus’ and Fresnel’s Laws with respect to their states on polarization. The influence of crystal wave plates and optically active materials on polarization is studied.
Set-up to study the polarisation of lightA. Set-up to study the polarisation of light
As light source either a “green” laser or a blue or white light emitting LED is used. In case of using a LED an achromat is used to form an almost parallel beam. By means of a polarisation analyser and the photodetector the intensity of the light source as function of the analyser angle is measured. As a result, three plots are created representing the polarisation of the green laser and the blue and white LED. Set-up to demonstrate and measure the Malus' LawB. Set-up to demonstrate and measure the Malus' Law

By using an additional polarizer the emitted light is polarised. If the analyser angle is set to 90 degrees with respect to the polarizer the passed intensity is a minimum and for 0 degree a maximum. Between these values the transmitted intensity behind the analyser is according to the Malus’ law. This setup allows the verification of Malus’s law and demonstrates furthermore an arrangement to change the intensity of a light source without changing the operating current.

Investigating Birefringent MaterialC. Investigating Birefringent Material

Material which change the polarisation of transmitted light are termed as optical active. Such natural materials are for instance crystalline quartz, calcite or mica. Within the frame of the experiment three crystalline plates made of quartz and mica are used. The plates are mounted in a click mount with an index mark. The plate is placed behind the polarizer and the transmitted intensity is measured as function of the analyser angle. The resulting angular intensity plot informs about the particular optical activity.
PE-0200 Polarisation des Lichtes, consisting of:
Item Code Qty. Description
1 DC-0020 1 LED and Photodiode Controller
2 DC-0120 1 Si-PIN Photodetector, BPX61
3 LQ-0020 1 Green (532 nm) DPSSL in ø25 housing
4 LQ-0200 1 White LED in ø 25 Housing
5 LQ-0230 1 Blue LED in ø 25 housing
6 MM-0020 1 Mounting plate C25 on carrier MG20
7 MM-0024 3 Mounting plate C25-S on carrier MG20
8 MM-0034 1 Mounting plate C30 on carrier MG20
9 MM-0420 1 Four axes kinematic mount on carrier MG20
10 MP-0150 1 Optical Bench MG-65, 500 mm
11 OC-0140 1 Achromat f=40 mm in C30 mount
12 OC-0710 2 Polarizer in C25 mount
13 OC-0810 1 Mica plate in C25 mount
14 OC-0830 1 Optical quartz plate in C25 mount
15 OC-0840 1 Quarter-wave plate in C25 mount
16 OC-0850 1 Half-wave plate in C25 mount
17 UM-PE02 1 Manual Polarisation of Light

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