Polarisation of Light

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Plane-polarised or linearly polarised light is a wave in which the vibrations of the electric vector are confined to a single direction in a plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation. This p…

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Only a transverse wave can be polarised. Since light can be polarised, light waves must be transverse in nature. In a longitudinal wave, vibrations occur along the direction of propagation, so polaris…

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If the amplitude changes when the second slit is rotated, the wave is transverse. If the amplitude remains the same for all orientations, the wave is longitudinal.

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The plane containing the direction of vibration of the electric vector and the direction of propagation of light is called the plane of vibration.

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The plane containing the direction of propagation of light and perpendicular to the plane of vibration is called the plane of polarisation. There are no vibrations of light in this plane.

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Unpolarised light is represented by a star symbol. Plane-polarised light with vibrations parallel to the plane of paper is represented by arrows, and plane-polarised light with vibrations perpendicula…

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The first crystal which polarises the light wave is called the polariser. The second crystal which examines whether the light emerging from the first crystal is polarised or not is called the analyser…

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Brewster's law: n = tan i_p, where n is the refractive index of the transparent material with respect to the surrounding medium and i_p is the polarising angle or Brewster's angle.