Laser Polarization & Intensity Fluctuations



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 Code Number :   9B62.12

Disclaimer:

Reprinted by permission of Dick Berg, University of Maryland, for use on this website.

The demonstrations contained and referenced herein are listed for the purposes of cataloging and describing physics demonstrations which should be conducted only under the direction of a trained instructional support professional or physicist. These demonstrations are not presented for the purpose of being conducted by persons unconnected to this Facility and/or persons not consulting with or being supervised by the recognized instructional support professional or physicist and his/her staff. The University is responsible only for those demonstrations carried out using its own equipment using established safety and scheduling policies, and bears no responsibility for those choosing to use this source material for their own purposes. All demonstrations described and contained herein are public domain, and can also be found in reference materials in libraries, bookstores, and electronic sources.

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Condition :   Good  
Principle :   Atomic Excitation and Emission  
Area of Study :  Modern Physics, Lasers   
Equipment :   One polarizer, lasers that are polarized or circular polarized.

 

Procedure :   Turn on the laser and allow it to warm up.  Place the polarizer in the beam path and demonstrate that the polarized beam can be passed or shut off by turning the polarizer.  Circular polarized lasers will give a fluctuating beam intensity without turning the polarizer.  Beam intensities may be measured with the power meter.
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   References

Edwin R. Jones.  "Polarization of a Helium-Neon Laser."  TPT, Vol. 34, # 6, p. 346 (Sept. 1996).

 

Bob Curry,  "Lasers ala Mode or Modes ala Lasers,"  PIRA News, Vol. 8, No 2, pp. 16.

"Sec. 8.3, Brewster Window for a Laser,"  Unknown Reference,  p. 418.  



Mail Questions and Comments to:  Dale Stille