scholarly journals III. On the Plane and Angle of Polarization of Light Reflected at the surface of a Crystal

1844 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-65
Author(s):  
P. Kelland
Keyword(s):  
Polarized Light ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Polarization Of Light

The present Memoir is, to a certain extent, a continuation of one which the author presented to the Society in December 1838, and which has since been published in the thirteenth volume of the Transactions. Other motives, however, than the desire of completing the subject, have influenced him in producing the following analysis. A very important point in the hypothetical conditions which Fresnel assumed to hold with respect to polarized light, has, of late, been warmly combated in various quarters. Fresnel supposed that light polarized in a given plane consists of vibrations of such a nature that the motion is perpendicular to that plane. Neumann and other writers contend that the very opposite is the fact. We hope to be able to offer evidence of some little weight in favour of the former view; at the same time we do not pretend to shew the actual impossibility of the truth of the latter.

Light microscopy of ceramics

1993 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
pp. 908-909
Author(s):  
Walter C. McCrone
Keyword(s):  
Refractive Index ◽  
Light Microscopy ◽  
Light Microscope ◽  
Polarized Light ◽  
Refractive Indices ◽  
Complete Coverage ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Lower Refractive Index

An excellent chapter on this subject by V.D. Fréchette appeared in a book edited by L.L. Hench and R.W. Gould in 1971 (1). That chapter with the references cited there provides a very complete coverage of the subject. I will add a more complete coverage of an important polarized light microscope (PLM) technique developed more recently (2). Dispersion staining is based on refractive index and its variation with wavelength (dispersion of index). A particle of, say almandite, a garnet, has refractive indices of nF = 1.789 nm, nD = 1.780 nm and nC = 1.775 nm. A Cargille refractive index liquid having nD = 1.780 nm will have nF = 1.810 and nC = 1.768 nm. Almandite grains will disappear in that liquid when observed with a beam of 589 nm light (D-line), but it will have a lower refractive index than that liquid with 486 nm light (F-line), and a higher index than that liquid with 656 nm light (C-line).

scholarly journals Experimental researches on the elliptic polarization of light

1843 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 394-394
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Polarized Light ◽  
Tabular Form ◽  
Metallic Surfaces ◽  
Analytical Results ◽  
Elliptic Polarization ◽  
Polarization Of Light ◽  
Experimental Researches

This paper contains an experimental investigation of the phenomena of elliptic polarization resulting from the reflexion of polarized light from metallic surfaces, and the theory on which they are explicable; the analytical results being given in a tabular form, and applied to the cases of the experiments themselves.

Polarization

Optics f2f ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 51-70
Author(s):  
Charles S. Adams ◽  
Ifan G. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Plane Wave ◽  
Wave Solution ◽  
Polarized Light ◽  
Plane Wave Solution ◽  
Polarization Of Light

This chapter discusses the polarization of light, including the transverse nature of the plane-wave solution; the linear and circular bases are introduced, and the propagation of polarized light in media is analysed.

scholarly journals Patterns and properties of polarized light in air and water

2011 ◽  
Vol 366 (1565) ◽  
pp. 619-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas W. Cronin ◽  
Justin Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Polarized Light ◽  
Natural Scenes ◽  
Circularly Polarized Light ◽  
Circularly Polarized ◽  
Current State ◽  
Visual Systems ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Predictable Pattern ◽  
Linearly Polarized ◽  
Polarization Of Light

Natural sources of light are at best weakly polarized, but polarization of light is common in natural scenes in the atmosphere, on the surface of the Earth, and underwater. We review the current state of knowledge concerning how polarization and polarization patterns are formed in nature, emphasizing linearly polarized light. Scattering of sunlight or moonlight in the sky often forms a strongly polarized, stable and predictable pattern used by many animals for orientation and navigation throughout the day, at twilight, and on moonlit nights. By contrast, polarization of light in water, while visible in most directions of view, is generally much weaker. In air, the surfaces of natural objects often reflect partially polarized light, but such reflections are rarer underwater, and multiple-path scattering degrades such polarization within metres. Because polarization in both air and water is produced by scattering, visibility through such media can be enhanced using straightforward polarization-based methods of image recovery, and some living visual systems may use similar methods to improve vision in haze or underwater. Although circularly polarized light is rare in nature, it is produced by the surfaces of some animals, where it may be used in specialized systems of communication.

scholarly journals I. On the determination of Verdet’s constant in absolute units

1877 ◽  
Vol 167 ◽  
pp. 1-34 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Force ◽  
Polarized Light ◽  
The Subject

In the year 1845 Faraday discovered that if plane polarized light passes through certain media, and these media be acted on by a sufficiently powerful magnetic force, the plane of polarization is rotated. About the year 1853 M. Verdet commenced a long and exhaustive examination of the subject, and his first result was published in Ann. de Chimie et de Phys. 3 sér. tom. xli.

Results of some recent experiments on the properties impressed upon light by the action of glass raised to different temperatures, and cooled under different circumstances. By David Brewster, LL. D. F. R. S. Edin. and F. A. S. Ed. in a letter to the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. K. B. P. R. S

1832 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 506-506
Keyword(s):  
Cold Water ◽  
Polarized Light ◽  
Relative Distance ◽  
Flint Glass ◽  
Fluid State ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Right ◽  
Interior Part

The author, being engaged in making a variety of experiments on resinous and other bodies that could be fused between plates of glass, remarked a partial depolarization while the subject of examination was hot, but which diminished on cooling, and consequently could not be ascribed to incipient crystallization. He therefore tried a plate of glass alone; and having previously raised its temperature almost to a red heat, he found that a ray of polarized light became completely depolarized by its passage through it: and he further thence infers, that glass brought to a certain temperature forms two images, and polarizes them like all doubly refracting crystals, only that the two images are, in fact, coincident, instead of being separated. Since in the formation of the glass-tears, called Prince Rupert’s drops, which are made by dropping melted glass into cold water, it is probable that in consequence of the sudden consolidation at the surface, the interior part is prevented from contracting, and consequently retains, in some measure, that relative distance of its particles which obtained in the fluid state, the author conceived these drops to be a fit subject for an interesting experiment; and having procured several such drops, made of white flint-glass, he cut and polished one of them by two planes at right angles to the axis, and a second by two planes parallel to its axis and to each other. When polarized light was transmitted through a drop in either of these directions, it was found to be depolarized; but there was not any position in which the transmitted ray would retain its polarization, as is found in corresponding experiments with crystallized substances.

scholarly journals Circular polarization signals of cloudy (exo)planets

2018 ◽  
Vol 616 ◽  
pp. A117 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Rossi ◽  
D. M. Stam
Keyword(s):  
Circular Polarization ◽  
Polarized Light ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Cloud Particle ◽  
Circularly Polarized Light ◽  
Particle Properties ◽  
Spatially Resolved ◽  
Life On Earth ◽  
Polarization Of Light ◽  
Phase Angles

Context. The circular polarization of light that planets reflect is often neglected because it is very small compared to the linear polarization. It could, however, provide information on a planet’s atmosphere and surface, and on the presence of life, because homochiral molecules that are the building blocks of life on Earth are known to reflect circularly polarized light. Aims. We compute Pc, the degree of circular polarization, of light that is reflected by rocky (exo)planets to provide insight into the viability of circular spectropolarimetry for characterizing (exo)planetary atmospheres. Methods. We compute the Pc of light that is reflected by rocky (exo)planets with liquid water or sulfuric acid solution clouds, both spatially resolved across the planetary disk and, for planets with patchy clouds, integrated across the planetary disk, for various planetary phase angles α. Results. The optical thickness and vertical distribution of the atmospheric gas and clouds, the size parameter and refractive index of the cloud particles, and α all influence Pc. Spatially resolved, Pc varies between ± 0.20% (the sign indicates the polarization direction). Only for small gas optical thicknesses above the clouds do significant sign changes (related to cloud particle properties) across the planets’ hemispheres occur. For patchy clouds, the disk-integrated Pc is typically smaller than ± 0.025%, with maximum for α between 40° and 70°, and 120° to 140°. As expected, the disk-integrated Pc is virtually zero at α = 0° and 180°. The disk-integrated Pc is also very small at α ≈ 100°. Conclusions. Measuring circular polarization signals appears to be challenging with current technology. The small atmospheric circular polarization signal could, however, allow the detection of circular polarization due to homochiral molecules such as those associated with life on Earth. Confirmation of the detectability of such signals requires better knowledge of the strength of circular polarization signals of biological sources and in particular of the angular distribution of their scattering.

scholarly journals Behavioural relevance of polarization sensitivity as a target detection mechanism in cephalopods and fishes

2011 ◽  
Vol 366 (1565) ◽  
pp. 734-741 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Pignatelli ◽  
Shelby E. Temple ◽  
Tsyr-Huei Chiou ◽  
Nicholas W. Roberts ◽  
Shaun P. Collin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Target Detection ◽  
Polarized Light ◽  
Luminance Contrast ◽  
Polarization Sensitivity ◽  
Prey Detection ◽  
Free Swimming ◽  
Detection Mechanism ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Polarization Of Light

Aquatic habitats are rich in polarized patterns that could provide valuable information about the environment to an animal with a visual system sensitive to polarization of light. Both cephalopods and fishes have been shown to behaviourally respond to polarized light cues, suggesting that polarization sensitivity (PS) may play a role in improving target detection and/or navigation/orientation. However, while there is general agreement concerning the presence of PS in cephalopods and some fish species, its functional significance remains uncertain. Testing the role of PS in predator or prey detection seems an excellent paradigm with which to study the contribution of PS to the sensory assets of both groups, because such behaviours are critical to survival. We developed a novel experimental set-up to deliver computer-generated, controllable, polarized stimuli to free-swimming cephalopods and fishes with which we tested the behavioural relevance of PS using stimuli that evoke innate responses (such as an escape response from a looming stimulus and a pursuing behaviour of a small prey-like stimulus). We report consistent responses of cephalopods to looming stimuli presented in polarization and luminance contrast; however, none of the fishes tested responded to either the looming or the prey-like stimuli when presented in polarization contrast.

scholarly journals X. On the elliptic polarization of light by reflexion from metallic surfaces

1845 ◽  
Vol 135 ◽  
pp. 269-282 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Royal Society ◽  
Metallic Surface ◽  
Metallic Surfaces ◽  
Elliptic Polarization ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Law ◽  
Comparative Results ◽  
Polarization Of Light

In a former paper, inserted in the Philosophical transactions, 1843, Part I., I detailed observations on some phenomena of elliptic polarization by reflexion from certain metallic surfaces; but with reference only to one class of comparative results. From these I have been led to pursue the subject into other relations besides those at first contemplated; but, from various causes, have only been able tat this interval to submit to the results to the Royal Society as a sequel to my former observations. The changes in the degree of ellipticity, investigated in my former paper, correspond to certain changes in the thickness of metallic films . If we now consider the case of reflexion from a simple polished metallic surface , and admit that in this case it may be supposed to take place by the penetration of the ray to a certain minute depth, or to some action of a thin transparent lamina of the metal, then, in like manner, —dependent on the law of metallic retardation, —the effect would vary with a difference in the effective thickness of the lamina, produced by changing the inclination of the incident ray; and that this is the case in general is well known, viz. that as the incidence is increased, the ellipticity increases up to a maximum, which occurs for most metals at an incidence between 70° and 80°, beyond which it decreases up to 90°.

Simplest Quantum Devices: Polarizers and Beam Splitters

2020 ◽  
pp. 137-153
Author(s):  
M. Suhail Zubairy
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Electromagnetic Wave ◽  
Single Photon ◽  
Polarized Light ◽  
Polarization Property ◽  
Quantum Devices ◽  
Beam Splitters ◽  
Electric And Magnetic Fields ◽  
Basic Features ◽  
Polarization Of Light

Maxwell showed that light consists of electric and magnetic fields that oscillate in directions perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Associated with this picture of light as an electromagnetic wave is an important property—the polarization of light. The polarization of light is related to the direction of oscillation of the electric field in an electromagnetic wave. In this chapter, the basic principles of quantum mechanics are discussed by studying the polarization property of a single photon. First the properties of a polarizer are presented and Malus’ law for polarized light is derived. Next it is shown that the basic features of quantum mechanics can be understood via an analysis of a single photon passing through a polarizer. This simple system allows an introduction of Dirac’s ket and bra notations for a quantum state. Finally the transformation properties of the quantum beam splitter and the polarization beam splitters are discussed.

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