>From my knowledge of how a circular polarizer works you will get a 3db loss for every re linerazation (every polarization after the 1/4 wave plate). Two circular polarizers (any positions)therfore would cut the amount of light recieved in half (assuming perfect rejection of the perpendicular polarization). If you place a linear polarizer in front of a circular polarizer it will act just like two linear polarizers, but the light after the 1/4 wave plate in the circular polarizer will be circularly polarized (either right or left handed depending on the way the polarizer was constructed))
On Wed, 20 Aug 2003, Dr E D F Williams wrote: > Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2003 08:34:05 +0300 > From: Dr E D F Williams <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: A test -- 'crossed nicols' > Resent-Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2003 01:34:17 -0400 > Resent-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > If anyone has two circular polarizers I'd be grateful if you would perform a > test. Put one over the other and rotate to see if the field becomes > completely dark when they are crossed. And ... if you also have an ordinary > polarizer try the same experiment using one normal and one circular > polarizer. > > Don > _______________ > Dr E D F Williams > http://personal.inet.fi/cool/don.williams > Author's Web Site and Photo Gallery > Updated: July 31, 2003 > > > >
