In many optics applications, it is important to use well-polarized light. However, there are situations in which randomly polarized light has distinct advantages. We demonstrate two approaches by which a polarized light beam can be totally depolarized, each using a simple setup and inexpensive components. The first method, designed for narrow spectrum light, works by combining the horizontal polarization component of the beam with the delayed vertical component. The second method, which is most suitable for broad spectrum light, uses birefringent quartz plates. In both approaches, the polarization state is characterized by Stokes parameters measured using a rotating quarter-wave plate and fixed polarizer. We measure the coherence function of the electric fields and determine the minimum delay or quartz plate thickness required for decoherence. Coherences are modelled by Gaussian or Lorentzian functions and compared with the spectral properties of the light sources.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
October 2021
PAPERS|
October 01 2021
Methods to depolarize narrow and broad spectrum light
Tom A. Kuusela
Tom A. Kuusela
a)
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Turku
, 20014 Turku, Finland
Search for other works by this author on:
Tom A. Kuusela
a)
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Turku
, 20014 Turku, Finland
a)
Electronic mail: [email protected]
Am. J. Phys. 89, 963–968 (2021)
Article history
Received:
March 10 2021
Accepted:
May 26 2021
Citation
Tom A. Kuusela; Methods to depolarize narrow and broad spectrum light. Am. J. Phys. 1 October 2021; 89 (10): 963–968. https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0005269
Download citation file:
Pay-Per-View Access
$40.00
Sign In
You could not be signed in. Please check your credentials and make sure you have an active account and try again.
433
Views
Citing articles via
All objects and some questions
Charles H. Lineweaver, Vihan M. Patel
Ergodic Lagrangian dynamics in a superhero universe
I. L. Tregillis, George R. R. Martin
Interplay between Airy and Coriolis precessions in a real Foucault pendulum
N. N. Salva, H. R. Salva
It is time to honor Emmy Noether with a momentum unit
Geoff Nunes, Jr.
Solving introductory physics problems recursively using iterated maps
L. Q. English, D. P. Jackson, et al.
Related Content
Polarized Nucleons
Am. J. Phys. (February 1967)
Single light scattering: Bubbles versus droplets
Am. J. Phys. (February 2004)
An Approach to a Physical Understanding of Color Mixing
Phys. Teach. (September 2020)
Notes on Jumping
Am. J. Phys. (December 1957)
Single-pixel camera
Am. J. Phys. (October 2019)