Malus Law & Polarization Experiment

When a light beam passes through a polarizer filter, it gets linearly polarized. When this linearly polarized light passes through analyzer, its intensity depends on the angular position of the analyzer. The maximum light intensity is transmitted when the optical axis of polarizer and analyzer coincide. The intensity of transmitted beam depends on the angular position between the optical axis of the polarizer and analyzer (q) and is defined by Malus law as
I=I₀ cos2θ
where I₀ is the intensity of incident light.

Further the intensity of light depends on the distance between the source and the detector and is defined by the inverse square law.

Features:

• Pin hole with silicon photo detector.
• He-Ne laser with built-in power supply.
• Heavy, rigid and stable Optical bench (made of Al extrusion)
• Saddle can hold rod from 8 to 15mm.
• Height and level adjustment screws (made of SS)
• Analyzer/Polayser with 0 ± 90° graduation.

Objectives:

• To measure the light intensity of plane polarized light as a function of the analyzer position.
• To verify Malus law.
• To verify inverse square law.

Technical Data:

Scope of Delivery:

• 1 He-Ne laser
• 1 Optical bench, 1/2 meter
• 3 Fixed saddle slider
• 1 Digital multimeter (801 auto)
• 2 Polarizer / Analyzer
• 1Transverse saddle slider
• 1 Photo detector
• 1 Flexible plug lead red
• 1 Flexible plug lead black

Key Topics:

• Polarization
• Malus law
• Polarizer, Analyser
• Circularly and elliptically polarized light.
• Plane of polarization.