Linear Wave Retarder

Application ID: 19307


Combinations of optical devices such as polarizers and wave retarders can be used to control the intensity and polarization of transmitted radiation. In this tutorial, two linear polarizers with orthogonal transmission axes are used to reduce the intensity of a ray to zero. Then the intensity and polarization of the transmitted ray are analyzed when a quarter-wave or half-wave retarder is placed between the two polarizers.

This model example illustrates applications of this type that would nominally be built using the following products: