Dipartimento di Fisica

UNIVERSITA' DELLA CALABRIA

Corso di Laurea Magistrale in Fisica A.A. 2017/2018

Laboratorio di spettroscopia lineare e non lineare

Polarization

Diego Haro 187339

Muthady Idrees Mohamedahmed Abdallah 181379

Introduction
Polarization is a fundamental property of light and a very important concept of physics
especially in optics where the study of polarization indispensable for its large set of
application in different areas such as IR spectroscopy and 3D movies, Radar and astrophysics.

The polarization phenomena make the scientist develop devices to control it, like polarizers
and change the state of polarization or retarded plates that changes the type of polarization.
This experience is intended to experimentally change the polarization state of light, detect
such changes and compare the results with the theoretical approach.

Theory:
Light is a transverse electromagnetic wave resulting from oscillation of electrically charged
particles, the light emitted from an actual source consists of many electric field vectors. The
polarization of light is defined in terms of the direction of oscillation of the electric field
vectors.

The behavior of electromagnetic waves can be studied by considering two orthogonal

components of the electric field vector. The phase relationship between these two
components can explain the different states of polarization. If the phase relationship is
random, light is not polarized, If the phase relationship is constant, the light is completely
polarized.
The total complex field for an electromagnetic wave propagating in the z-direction can then
be written as:

𝐸 = {𝐸0𝑥 𝑒 𝑖𝛿𝑥 + 𝐸0𝑦 𝑒 𝑖𝛿𝑥 } 𝑒 𝑖(𝑘𝑧−𝜔𝑡)

The bracketed term in the above equation referred to as the complex amplitude, contains all
the information needed to determine the state of polarization of the optical field. From the
previous equation we can distinguish these types of polarization, the polarization state of the
wave is completely determined by the amplitudes (𝐸0𝑥 /𝐸0𝑦 ), and phases (𝛿𝑥 /𝛿𝑦 ).

Types of polarization:
Linear polarization:

If two components of electric field are in the same phase the polarization is linearly, the
direction of polarization depends on the ratio between the y-component electric field and x-
component, if the two components are equal the polarized light has an angle 45 with the
propagation axis or can be the orientation of polarization along the x-axis if there isn’t y-
component and vice versa.

Representation in jones vector

1
𝐸 = 𝐴 ( ) Linear polarized along x-axis
0

0
E= A ( ) linear polarized along y-axis
1

cos 𝜃
E= A( ) linear polarized with angle 𝜃 respect to propagation axis
sin 𝜃

Circular polarization:

If the two components have equal amplitudes again, and there is a constant phase difference
of /2 between them, which corresponds to a distance of /4 in the “fixed time” picture.

𝐸 = 𝐸0𝑥 (cos(𝑘𝑧 − 𝜔𝑡) 𝑥 − sin(𝑘𝑧 − 𝜔𝑡) 𝑦) (left circular)

𝜋⁄
If phase shift is (𝑒 −𝑖 2)
 𝐸 = 𝐸0𝑥 (cos(𝑘𝑧 − 𝜔𝑡) 𝑥 + sin(𝑘𝑧 − 𝜔𝑡) 𝑦)

π⁄
If the phase shift is (ei 2)

The field never goes to zero simultaneously in both dimensions. In fact, strength of the electric
field is constant, and it rotates in a circular pattern in the x - y dimensions.

For the left -handed circular polarization by look down the z axis (at time t = 0) starting from
𝜋
𝑘𝑧 = 0 we get 𝐸0 along positive x-axis , for 𝑘𝑧 = 𝐸0 pointing in the negative y-axis,𝑘𝑧 = 𝜋
2

𝐸0 along negative x-axis, and on the case 𝑘𝑧 = 2𝜋, 𝐸0 along positive y-axis. this type of
polarization is called circular polarization.

Representation in jones vector

1 1
Right circularly polarized ( )
√2 −𝑖

1 1
Left circularly polarized ( )
√2 𝑖

Elliptical polarization:

The two components might have unequal amplitudes 𝐸0𝑥 𝐸0𝑦 , and might contain a different
relative phase . The most general case in which the tip of the electric field vector E traces
out an ellipse in the x-y plane.

0𝐸𝑥 = 𝑥𝐴𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑘𝑥 − 𝑤𝑡 + 𝛿)

𝐸𝑦 = 𝑦𝐴𝑦 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑘𝑥 − 𝑤𝑡)

Wave plate:

A wave plate or retarder is an optical device that alters the polarization state of a light beam
travelling through it. A typical wave plate is simply a birefringent crystal.
We say that wave is polarized along the fast axis, since its phase velocity will be a maximum.
A plane-polarized wave with its plane rotated 90° will propagate with the maximum index of
refraction and minimum phase velocity.

From the property of birefringent material incident ray upon a birefringent material, is split
by polarization into two rays taking slightly different paths, Light whose polarization
is perpendicular to the optic axis is governed by a refractive index no (fast axis), whereas Light
whose polarization is in the direction of the optic axis sees an optical index ne (extraordinary).

This process make delay on one component of polarization

2𝜋 𝑛
𝑘=
𝜆

The difference of optical path

2𝜋
(𝑘𝑠 − 𝑘𝑓 ) = (𝑛𝑠 − 𝑛𝑓 ) 𝑑
𝜆

The difference between these two-phase shifts is termed the retardation, because the phase
shift depends on the distance of plate and the two refractions.

Indices and the wave length we can tuning the distance of certain wavelengths to get half
wave plate and quarter wave plate.

General matrix representation of wave plate is

𝑖𝜑𝑥 1 0
(𝑒 0
𝑖𝜑𝑦 ) = 𝑒 𝑖𝜑𝑥 ( 𝑖(𝜑𝑦 −𝜑𝑥 ) )
0 𝑒 0 𝑒

where 𝑒 𝑖𝜑𝑥 global phase ignored.

Half wave plate:

𝜆
(𝑛𝑠 − 𝑛𝑓 )𝑑 =
2

Used to modify direction of linear polarization. The matrix representation of half wave plate.
(phase shift (𝜑𝑦 − 𝜑𝑥 ) = 𝜋)
 1 0 1 0
[ 𝑖 𝜋] = [ ]
0 𝑒 0 −1

Quarter wave plate (QWP)

𝜆
(𝑛𝑠 − 𝑛𝑓 ) 𝑑 =
4
2𝜋 2𝜋 𝜋
(𝑛𝑠 − 𝑛𝑓 ) 𝑑 = =
𝜆 4 2

Quarter wave plate convert linear polarization to circular polarization

𝜋
The matrix representation of QWP. (phase shift (𝜑𝑦 − 𝜑𝑥 ) = )
2
1 0 1 0
[ 𝑖 2]
𝜋 =[ ]
0 𝑒 0 𝑖

Jones matrices

For the angle of waveplate =0 it means the wave linearly polarized along x-axis, and the
output polarization calculated from Jones matrix as follows:

1 0 1 1 1 1
[ ] [ ]= [ ]
0 𝑖 √2 0 √2 0

The output polarization is same linearly polarized as the input polarization, we can define the
retardation plate here considered as identity operator.

For the angle of waveplate =15°,30° respectively it means the polarization make angles 15°
,30° respect to x-axis, and the output polarization calculated from Jones matrix as follows:

For angle 15°

1 0 3+1 3+1
[√ [√
1 1
[ ] ]= ]
0 𝑖 2√2 √3 − 1 2√2 𝑖 √3 − 1
For angle 30°

1 0
[√3] = [√3]
1 1
[ ]
0 𝑖 2 1 2 𝑖

The output polarization is elliptically polarized for the polarization with input angles 15°,30°
and circular polarized for 45°

When the angle between polarizer and wave plates 45° it means the incident, light is linearly

polarized (fast axis horizontal) the output polarization calculated by Jones matrix as follows:

1 0 1 1 1 1
[ ] [ ]= [ ]
0 𝑖 √2 1 √2 −𝑖
The output polarization is circularly polarized.

Instruments and procedure

For this experience it was used:

 𝐻𝑒 − 𝑁𝑒 laser with wavelength λ = 632.8nm as a beam source

 Polarizer to ensure the polarization direction
 Waveplate λ/4 (QWP)
 Analyser (just another polarizer)
 Photodetector to measure the intensity of light as a function of voltage
 Oscilloscope to visualize the voltage

To observe the state of polarization generated by a quarter waveplate the next set up is done:

A 𝐻𝑒 − 𝑁𝑒 laser generates a beam with wavelength λ = 632.8nm Where a first polarizer is

placed inmediately after the source to ensure the polarization in the y axes as shown in Fig 1.
The polarized beam goes to the wave plate where the change in polarization takes place. In
order to analyse the polarization of the resulting beam an analizer is placed. The final beam
intensity is measured in the detector.
 Fig 1. Pictorial representation of the set up

Initially we consider the polarization direction in the y axis, we match the polarization of the
beam with the optical axis of the wave plate, and the polarization of the analyser is set toward
the y axis. After the measurements consist in vary the angles of the wave plate with respect
to its optical axis from 0⁰, 15⁰, 30, 45⁰. For each variation of the wave plate we tune the angle
of the analyser and we take the measure until we make a complete round (360⁰) in steps of
15⁰.

Data analysis
The collected information is plotted in fig.2. where we can see the variation of the intensity
with respect to the angle of inclination of the analyser for each angle of the waveplate. It is
represented with black 0⁰, red 15⁰, blue 30⁰, green 45⁰.

For waveplate at 0⁰ we can see that after having a maximum intensity at analyser 0⁰ the
intensity is decreasing when analizer→90 and reaching its minimum at analyser 90⁰. This
behaviour is typical of lineary polarized light which obey Malus law.

For waveplate at 15⁰ we can see that the maximum intensity is shifted 15⁰ with respect to
the linear polarization axis, and also that the minimum intensity at 90⁰,270⁰ is bigger than the
linear polarized light. From where we assume that the polarization is no longer linear
polarized it is slightly elliptical.

For waveplate at 30⁰ we can see that the maximum intensity is shifted 30⁰ with respect to
the linear polarization axis. Additionally, the minimum at 90⁰, 270⁰ is bigger, its shape
resembles an ellipse.
For waveplate at 45⁰ the shape seems to be a circle that means the polarization is having 2
components equally distributed in the axes perpendicular to the propagation of the beam.

Fig. 2 Polar plots of the intensities vs the angle of polarization of the analyser.

By compare Jones matrices calculations with our results we verify experimentally the retarded
wave plate (quarter wave plate) are consistent.

Conclusion:
We studied the phenomena of polarization which is one of important techniques in optics
laboratory.
We observed the change of polarization state by using quarter wave plate, furthermore
dependence of output polarization state on the angle of quarte wave plate alignment with
respect to its optical axis.

It was compare the results given by jones matrices and our experimental data being in good
agrement.