WOLFRAM|DEMONSTRATIONS PROJECT

Polarization of Light through a Wave Plate

​
input
output
output intensity
input light
arctan ​
E
y
0

E
x
0
​
0
phase difference
of
E
x
and
E
x
0
wave plate parameters
retardance
0.5
angle
0.25
Type
Output
H-V basis
0.707107
0.+0.707107
σ basis

1.
0

Graph
This Demonstration shows polarized light passing through a wave plate with arbitrary retardance; the polarization is shown both in front and behind the wave plate.