3. Polarization Photography
Polarizing filters are used in photography and in
certain kinds of sunglasses. But polarization is also
used in digital watches and laptop screens. In this
unit we will learn what polarization is and how
polarizing filters can do amazing things with light.
Polarization is everywhere in daily life. It is an
important principle enabling many familiar things to
work the way they do, from sunglasses to digital
watches and laptop screens.
9. Light as Plane Waves
Sinusoidal plane waves very
good approximation.
Very useful for characterizing
polarization.
I max
I min
θmax
180 o
Polarized Wave: Has only one preferred orientation.
Un-polarized Wave: Has no preferred orientation
or has all orientations.
10. Classification of Polarization
Linear : Two orthogonal plane waves with same
phase but
possibly different amplitudes.
Circular: Two orthogonal plane waves with 90 deg
phase
shift but same amplitudes.
Elliptical: Possibly any degree phase shift with
different amplitudes.