Question

If the phase difference between two rays is π/2 and the angle of incidence is not equal to π/4, the emergent light is __________

(a) Linearly Polarized

(b) Elliptically Polarized

(c) Circularly Polarized

(d) Non-Polarized

I have been asked this question by my college director while I was bunking the class.

This interesting question is from Polarization in section Optics of Engineering Physics II

Answer 1

The correct choice is (b) Elliptically Polarized

The best explanation: In this case, the equation of the emergent light becomes the equation of an ellipse, which is \(\frac{x^2}{a^2}+\frac{y^2}{b^2}\) =1. Thus, the emergent light is elliptically polarized and the plane of the ellipse is normal to the direction of propagation.