Polarization And Scattering Flashcards

1
Q

What is the rule for unpolarized light?

A

half the light hitting a linear polarizer will pass through and the light leaving will be polarized along the transmission axis of the polarizer.

50% out

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2
Q

What is the rule for polarized light?

A

the amount of light leaving depends on the difference between the orientation of the polarization hitting the filter and the orientation of the filter’s transmission axis according to Malus Law

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3
Q

Describe the equation for Malus’s Law.

A

𝐼 = 𝐼0𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜃
𝐼0 is the amount of light hitting the filter and 𝜃 is the angle between the polarization direction and the filter orientation.
The exiting light will be polarized along the transmission axis of the polarizer

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4
Q

What equation provides information for polarization by reflection?

A

Brewster’s angle

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5
Q

How can polarization be useful for glaucoma?

A

Used to measure changes in the RNFL in glaucoma (fibrous structure)

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6
Q

Compare a neutral density filter to a polarizer.

A

ND filter would get rid of part of the light causing dimmer reflections overall

Polarizers minimize one over the other

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7
Q

What is the goal of polarization in sunglasses?

A

Get rid of reflections hindering vision without limiting light needed to see.

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8
Q

When does polarization happen?

A

Whenever radiated energy or light comes from an excited molecule oscillating in one direction

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9
Q

Is natural light polarized?

A

No they are orientated randomly and tend to shift over time
Ex natural: sun
other examples: incandescent light, candlelight

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10
Q

What are three ways to generate polarized light?

A
  1. Pass unpolarized light through a specially
    designed filter
  2. Reflect unpolarized light off an appropriately tilted surface
  3. Scatter unpolarized light in a specific
    direction from small particles (sun to eye depends on angle I am looking at sky and position of sun)
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11
Q

What are the directions of polarization? Does it affect the way our visual system perceives them?

A

Vertical, horizontal, diagonal, circular

No

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12
Q

What can any polarization be expressed as?

A

Sum of vertical and Horizontal Component (diagonal)

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13
Q

How can we create polarizers?

A

Design material that only allows oscillation of molecules in a single direction

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14
Q

How do we generate polarized light?

A

When light strikes a conducting material, free electrons absorb and begin to oscillate in one direction.

The component of polarization in the perpendicular will transmit.

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15
Q

What determines how much a polarizer can absorb?

A

The ease with which the electrons can oscillate in a specific direction once absorbed

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16
Q

When we have a series of polarizers how do we determine the orientation of light leaving the polarizer?

A

Follow the orientation of the last light leaving the filter

17
Q

What happens when we have 2 polarizers one 90 and the other 180?

A

Crossed no light makes it though

18
Q

Describe what occurs during polarization by reflection as the angle of incidence increases.

A

1) The amount of light with a polarization parallel to the surface increases

2) The amount of light with a polarization perpendicular to the surface decreases to zero (at a special angle called Brewster’s angle) and then it increases

19
Q

At 90 degrees what percent reflectance are Rs and Rp?

A

100%

20
Q

What direction is the polarization of polarized sunglasses?

A

Horizontally polarized
transmission vertical

21
Q

Describe the relationship between polarization and scattering. Wavelength and scattering?

A

Scattered light is polarized
Short wavelength scatter more

22
Q

Describe birefringence.

A

Leads to double image
2 different indices of refraction

The light associated with each image is plane-polarized perpendicular to that of the other

reason for the appearance of the double images is that the calcite crystal is anisotropic, which means the material has a different structure in different directions

23
Q

What can cause birefringence?

A

Mechanical stress

24
Q

Describe the phase retardation of a half wave, quarterwave, and full wave.

A

180 degree phase retardation

90 degree phase retardation

360 degree phase retardation

25
Q

What makes up circular polarizers.

A

Linear Polaroid and quarterwave plate make a circular polarizer

26
Q

How thickness affect circular polarization?

A

Thin- weak elliptical polarization

Thick- strong elliptical polarization

27
Q

What create Haidinger’s Brush?

A

Polarization sensitive bundles

28
Q

What 4 things can light do when it interacts with matter?

A

Scatter
Reflects
Transmits
Absorbs

29
Q

What contributes to scatter?

A

Inhomogeneities (particles)

Scattering depends on size of particles, distance between, strength of interaction between light and the particles

30
Q

What are.3 categories for particle size? What kind of scattering are they associated with?

A

Much larger than l (Mie scattering)
About the size of l (Tyndall scattering)
Much smaller than l (Rayleigh scattering)

31
Q

Describe Mie scattering.

A

Much larger than wavelength
Transparent (weak absorber)
Forward direction
Wavelength dependent
Produces unpolarized scatter light
Ex: white light scatter, clouds

32
Q

Describe Tyndall scattering.

A

About the size of wavelength
Transparent (weak absorber)
Scattering one direction
Wavelength dependent
Sensitive to particle size

33
Q

Describe Rayleigh scattering.

A

Much smaller wavelength
Transparent (weak absorber)
Dipole re-radiation
Uniform in all directions
Stronger intensity for shorter wavelengths
Reflected light is perpendicular and polarized

34
Q

Why is the sky blue? Why are sunsets red?

A

Rayleigh scattering

Blue light scatters off and we’re left with red

35
Q

Why are blue eyes blue?

A

Tyndall scattering

36
Q

How does multiple scattering affect wavelength dependence?

A

Reduces wavelength dependence

37
Q

Describe coherent scattering?

A

Closer particles causes constructive and destructive interference occurs between the waves

38
Q

Describe resonance radiation.

A

Scattering from the absorbers themselves

39
Q

Describe the light from the sun.

A

Collimated