Superposition Flashcards

1
Q

How is light that we encounter every day from the Sun or a light bulb polarized?

A

It always has a mixture of light that’s polarized in many different directions.

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2
Q

What does an equal combination of vertically and horizontally polarized light produce?

A

It produces diagonally polarized light.

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3
Q

What is light that is diagonally polarized referred to, in the language of quantum mechanics?

A

Diagonally polarized light is a superposition of two components: vertical and horizontal light.

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4
Q

What’s important to note about vertical and horizontal components of light?

A

We identify vertical and horizontal components of light for convenience–they’re not fundamental facts of nature.

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