Consider randomly polarized light with initial intensity I0 incident upon a pola

Question

Consider randomly polarized light with initial intensity I0 incident upon a polarizer. Suppose we want to rotate the resulting light’s polarization by 90 .

(a) As a first attempt, we use a second polarizer that is oriented at 90 with respect to the first one (see figure (a) below). What is the final intensity of the light that has passed through both polarizers?

(b) Next, we try a total of three polarizers as oriented in figure (b) below. What is the final intensity now?

(c) Finally, we try a total of four polarizers as oriented in figure (c) below. What is the final intensity now?

Explanation / Answer

using malus law

I = Io

after 1st I1 = Io/2

cos theta = 90 degree

I2 = I1*cos(90) = 0

part b )

I1 = Io/2

I2 = I1*cos^2(45) = 0.5I1 = 0.25 Io

I3 = I2*cos^2(45) = 0.125Io

part c )

I1 = Io/2

I2 = I1*cos^2(30) = 0.75I1 = 0.375Io

I3 = I2*cos^2(30) =0.28125Io

I4 = I3*cos^2(30) = 0.21Io

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