Polarisation Techniques

Unpolarised light can be converted to plane polarised light by four distinct techniques, each covered in its own subsection: (i) polarisation by selective absorption, using dichroic materials such as polaroid sheets; (ii) polarisation by reflection, at a special angle called the polarising (Brewster's) angle; (iii) polarisation by double refraction, in crystals such as calcite, typically via a Nicol prism; and …