Assume having a laser beam which is horizontal linear polarized. As one measure

Question

Assume having a laser beam which is horizontal linear polarized. As one measure the sqrt(intensity) transmitted through a rotatable linear polarizer its pattern corresponds to a cosine. Plotting this in a polar coordinate system results in the so called "polarization ellipse". But the result is far away from being a (more or less) horizontal line.

But what does the polarization ellipse tell me?

My problem is that from the polar plot one may interpret that the original beam has E-Field components also in non-horizontal direction. But this is (ideally) not true. But only the polarizator has (excepted for the vertical position) components in horizontal direction leading to a transmitted field.

Explanation / Answer

I'm not sure, if I understand your question. Please elaborate a bit further. For starters, this demonstration at wolfram.com may be of help demonstrations.wolfram.com/VariableStatesOfPolarizationIncidentOnAWavePlate/.

If you're actually making polarization measurements and are confused by what it all means, check this out: Rotating Quarter-Wave-Plate Stokes Polarimeter.

possibly you may also want to look up the stokes parameters of polarization on Wikipedia,

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.