Two polarizing filters are aligned so that their polarizing directions are at ri

Question

Two polarizing filters are aligned so that their polarizing directions are at right angles to each other, as shown below. If unpolarized light of intensity l_0 is incident on the first polarizer, what is the intensity of the light after passing through the first polarizer, in terms of the incident intensity l_0? What is the direction of the plane of polarization of the E-field after the first polarizer? What is the intensity of the light after it passes through the 2^nd polarizer? What is the direction of the plane of polarization? A polarizer is dropped in between the first two polarizers with an angle of 45 degree with respect to the vertical (and thus 45 degree with respect to the original polarizers) as shown below. if unpolarized light of intensity l_0 is incident on the first polarizer, calculate the intensity and direction of the plane of polarization of the light when it has passed through the 3^rd polarizer. Make sure to show all your intermediate calculations of you want partial credit. Your answer should be expressed in terms of l_0, the incident intensity on polarizer 1.

Explanation / Answer

a) when unpolarized light falls on a polarizer its intensity is halved,

hence after first polarizer intensity = I0/2

plane of polarization is vertical, as the first polarizer was vertical polarizer.

b) intensity after 2nd polarizer I = I0 cos 90 = 0

np plane of polarization.

c) intensity after 1st polarizer = I0/2

intensity after 2nd polarizer = (I0/2) (cos45)^2 = I0/4

intensity after 3rd polarizer = (I0/4 )(cos45)^2 = I0/8

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