Question

1. A vertically polarized beam of light, having intensity 100 W/m , is incident on a stack of

   identical linear polarizers that are arranged one behind the other so that the transmission axis

   ∘∘ ofthefirstisvertical,thesecondat45,thethirdat90 withthevertical.(i)Findtheintensity

   of the emerging beam, which will be oscillating in a direction perpendicular to the incident one.

   ∘
   (ii) If we would like to rotate a polarized beam of light through an angle 90 , we can use a

   similar stack with N polarizers. What is the least number of polarizers needed to have the

   ,
   intensity of the emerging light higher than 85 W/m . (iii) Can we rotate the polarized beam

   ∘
   emerging from the first polarizer, through an angle 90 , by replacing the stack of linear

   polarizers with a half-wave plate (HWP)? What angle will its slow axis make with the vertical direction? Validate your response using Jones matrices.

Answer 1