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Polarization

Calculators for polarization states, birefringence, and polarization optics.

33 calculators

Stokes Parameters

Analyze polarization state from Stokes vector components with Poincaré-sphere visualization.

Birefringence & Retardation

Phase retardation from crystal birefringence, thickness, and wavelength.

Birefringence Imaging

Simulate quantitative birefringence imaging with polarizer/analyzer rotation and compensators. Visualize stress-induced birefringence patterns.

Birefringent Polarizer Design

Compare Glan-Taylor, Wollaston, Rochon and Sénarmont prism polarizers: exact beam deviations and the Glan field of view from crystal dispersion data.

Brewster Polarizer Design

Design pile-of-plates polarizers at Brewster's angle: transmittance and degree of polarization of m glass plates, with the multiple reflections between surfaces.

Circular Dichroism

Calculate CD parameters: ΔA, Δε, ellipticity, molar and mean-residue ellipticity and g-factor from the absorbances of left and right circularly polarized light.

Conoscopic Observation

Simulate conoscopic interference figures (isochromates and isogyres) for uniaxial and biaxial crystals between crossed polarizers.

Degree of Polarization

Calculate DoP from Stokes parameters, decompose into polarized and unpolarized components.

Depolarization

Calculate depolarization effects via Mueller matrix model or spectral averaging.

Dichroic Polarizer

Model absorbing dichroic polarizers from the complex index of each principal axis: principal transmittances, extinction ratio and crossed-pair leakage.

Double Refraction (Birefringence)

Calculate ordinary and extraordinary ray paths, walk-off angle, lateral separation, and retardation in uniaxial crystals.

Fresnel Polarization Calculator

Compute Fresnel reflection and transmission coefficients, their phases, and the Brewster and critical angles at an interface, including absorbing media and total internal reflection.

Glan Prism Polarizer Design

Design Glan-Taylor, Glan-Foucault and Glan-Thompson prism polarizers: the field of view from total internal reflection of the o and e rays, with crystal dispersion.

Jones Calculus

Chain Jones matrices for polarizers, waveplates, and rotators. Up to 5 elements.

Jones Matrix Chain

Chain Jones matrices to transform input polarization states and visualize the output ellipse.

Liquid Crystal Polarizer

Model transmission through twisted nematic (TN), super-twisted nematic (STN), vertically aligned (VA), and electrically controlled birefringence (ECB) LC cells.

Microscope Polarizer Calculator

Extinction of a polarizing microscope: polarizer extinction ratio, the loss of extinction with NA at uncoated surfaces, and the smallest retardance you can see.

Mueller Matrix Calculator

Chain optical elements using Mueller matrices and compute output Stokes vector.

Mueller Polarimetry

Build optical systems using Mueller matrices and analyze polarization transformations.

Optical Activity

Calculate optical rotation from specific rotation, concentration, and path length with wavelength/temperature corrections.

Orthoscopic Observation

Model orthoscopic observation of birefringent samples with rotating stage. Calculate intensity vs rotation angle and interference colors.

Poincaré Sphere

Interactive visualization of polarization states on the Poincaré sphere.

Polarimetry Basics

Explore Stokes parameters, Poincaré sphere representation, and analyzer measurements for polarization state characterization.

Polarization Scrambling

Simulate polarization scrambling: how randomizing polarization state reduces residual polarization.

Polarizer Extinction Ratio

Analyze extinction ratio, Malus's law with imperfect polarizers, and cascaded extinction performance.

Polarizer Types Comparison

Compare Glan-Taylor, Glan-Thompson, Wollaston, Rochon, wire-grid, film, thin-film plate and PBS cube polarizers on catalogue extinction ratio, wavelength range, transmission, aperture and damage threshold, with output and leakage power.

Polarizing Beamsplitter (PBS) Design

Design a MacNeille polarizing beamsplitter cube: a quarter-wave high/low-index stack at Brewster's angle between glass prisms, with its extinction against wavelength and angle.

Polymer (Sheet) Polarizer

Model iodine-PVA sheet polarizers (H-sheet type): principal transmittances k₁ and k₂, extinction ratio and efficiency from the film's absorption, dichroic ratio and thickness.

Retarder Types Comparison

Compare zero-order, multi-order, compound, achromatic and Fresnel-rhomb retarders: retardance against wavelength and tilt.

Waveplate / Retarder

Polarization state transformation by a birefringent waveplate with variable retardance and fast-axis orientation.

Waveplate Order

Calculate waveplate order, retardation, and wavelength-dependent performance.

Waveplate Thickness Calculator

Calculate required crystal thickness for waveplates of any retardance order.

Wire Grid Polarizer Calculator

Model wire-grid polarizers as a grating of metal strips much finer than the wavelength: transmission for E across and along the strips, reflection, ohmic loss and extinction ratio.