Question

Linearly polarized light that is oriented along the x-axis and has intensity I₀ is incident on a linear polarizer (LP1) with transmission axis oriented at an angle θ₁=15° clockwise with respect to the x axis. The light then passes through a second linear polarizer (LP2) with transmission axis oriented at an angle θ₂ = 45° counterclockwise relative to the x axis as shown before passing through a quarter wave plate. The fast axis of the quarter wave plate is aligned with the y-axis.

1)

What is the intensity of the light after the second linear polarizer (LP2) but before the quarter wave plate?

I ₂ = 0.25 I₀

I ₂ = 0.467 I₀

I ₂ = 0.75 I₀

I ₂ = 0.233 I₀

I ₂ = 0.7 I₀

2)

What is the polarization after the light passes through the quarter wave plate?

Linearly polarized along θ₂

Left circularly polarized

Right circularly polarized

3)

Keeping the linear polarizers and quarter wave plate exactly the same, the incident light is now changed to be unpolarized as shown below. What is the intensity of light measured after the quarter wave plate(IQWPIQWP)?

IQWP=IQWP= 0.125 I0I0

IQWP=IQWP= 0.233 I0I0

IQWP=IQWP= 0.5 I0I0

IQWP=IQWP= 0.0583 I0I0

IQWP=IQWP= 0.467 I0

Answer 1

Part 1-

Part 2-

part 3-

IQWP=0.125 Io