Question

4. A beam of linearly polarized light (in the xˆ direction) travels in the z direction, through two polarizers. The first is oriented along the xˆ + yˆ direction, and the second is oriented in the yˆ direction.

(a) Write down the Jones vector for the initial beam.

(b) Write down the Jones matrix for the first polarizer. (Hecht table 8.6 is handy).

(c) Find the Jones vector for the beam after the first polarizer.

(d) Find the ratio of the intensity after the first polarizer to the initial intensity.

(e) Write down the Jones matrix for the second polarizer.

(f) Find the Jones vector for the final beam, after it has passed through the second polarizer.

(g) Find the ratio of the intensity after the second polarizer to the initial intensity

(h) Explain why the Jones formalism is appropriate for Problem 4

Answer 1

The solutions of the first four parts are given here.