Experiment Polarization and Retardation Plates

Topics covered:
- Malus' Law
- Production and analysis of polarized light
- Phase retardation plates
- Optical rotation and Biot's Law
- Fresnel coefficients and Brewster's angle

Principles and objectives:
All light waves have a state of polarization that can be determined using a polarizer and a light meter. The detector will determine the transmitted light intensity in the direction of the polarizer, which will act as the analyzer in this case.
There are 4 different polarization states:
- Linear: all spectral components are polarized in the same direction. Two extinctions and two brightness maxima are observed 180° apart.
- Circular: a constant intensity is observed regardless of the analyzer's orientation.
- Elliptical: variations in light amplitude are observed without reaching extinction.
- Random: when the intensity at the analyzer's ouExperimentut varies in a non-repeatable manner. In this case, it is also referred to as unpolarized light.

This set allows for the study of basic polarization principles. You can identify the polarization states of sources, verify Malus' Law, and analyze the effects of different phase retardation plates on polarization.

Explore further with Brewster accessories (ref. 202 788) or Active Medium (ref. 202 787).

Composition:
▪ 1 prism bench of 2 m with adjustable feet set (ref.202233)
▪ 5 standard prism riders (ref.202234)
▪ 1 red laser diode 635 nm - 1 mW (ref.205154)
▪ 2 polarizers on graduated mount (ref.202374)
▪ 1 half-wave plate on graduated mount (ref.202380)
▪ 1 quarter-wave plate on graduated mount (ref.202382)
▪ 1 luxmeter on rod (ref.210010)
▪ 1 set of experiment instructions