Unpolarized light of intensity ( I )o falls on a stack of three polarizing sheet

Question

Unpolarized light of intensity (I)o falls on a stack of three polarizing sheets. The polarizing axes of the first and third sheets are crossed (90 degrees between axes) while the middle one can be rotated in order to change (theta), the angle between its polarizing axis and the polarizing axis of the first polarizer.

(a) What fraction of the incident light intensity, (I)1/(I)0, is transmitted by the FIRST polarizer?

(b) What is the direction of the E-field vector of the light emerging from the THIRD polarizer?

(c) At what angle (theta) is the light emerging from the third polarizer the most intense?

(d) Calculate the maximum fraction of the incident light, I3/I0, that this system can transmit.

Explanation / Answer

The E field of the light incident on the first polarizer parallel and perpendicular to the transmission axis is
Ey = E cos(16

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