Nicol Prism Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is a Nicol prism?

An optical device which is used to produce plane polarised light and it also acts as both polariser and analyser.

What is the principle of a Nicol prism?

Double refraction

What kind of crystal is a Nicol prism made of?

Calcite crystal

What are the angles of a Nicol prism?

<p>72° and 108°</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is used to paste the two halves of the Nicol prism together?

<p>Canada balsam</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to a ray of unpolarized light incident on a Nicol prism?

<p>It travels in different directions with different velocities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the refractive index of the crystal for the ordinary ray?

<p>1.658</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the refractive index of Canada balsam?

<p>1.523</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the ordinary ray at the layer of Canada balsam?

<p>It is totally internally reflected.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of light is emitted from the Nicol prism?

<p>Plane polarized light</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Nicol Prism

An optical device used to produce plane-polarized light from unpolarized light, acting as both a polarizer and an analyzer.

Double Refraction

The phenomenon where light travels at different speeds through a crystal, splitting into two rays (ordinary and extraordinary).

Calcite

A naturally occurring mineral used in Nicol prisms due to its birefringent properties.

Ordinary Ray

The specific direction of light travel within a birefringent crystal where light travels slower.

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Extraordinary Ray

The specific direction of light travel within a birefringent crystal where light travels faster.

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Canada Balsam

A translucent cement used to bond together the halves of a Nicol prism.

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Refractive Index

The measure of how much a material slows down light, impacting how light bends.

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Critical Angle

The angle at which light cannot pass from a denser material to a less dense material.

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Total Internal Reflection

When light is reflected back within a medium due to hitting a boundary at a greater angle than critical angle.

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Polarization

The process of eliminating all polarized light components except for those aligned with a specific direction.

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Plane-Polarized Light

The phenomenon where light waves vibrate in only one plane.

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Polarizer

A device that transmits only a polarized light component aligned with its transmission axis.

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Analyzer

Identifying and examining a polarized light component based on its alignment to a transmission axis.

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Production of Plane-Polarized Light

The process of using a Nicol prism or similar device to produce plane-polarized light.

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Transmission Axis

The specific direction selected by a polarizer or analyzer that defines the direction of permitted polarized light.

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Reflection of Ordinary Ray

The ordinary ray is reflected at the Canada balsam layer due to its refractive index being higher than Canada balsam.

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Transmission of Extraordinary Ray

The extraordinary ray passes through the Canada balsam layer due to its refractive index being lower than Canada balsam.

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Unpolarized Light

Light waves that vibrate in all directions perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the light beam.

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Birefringence Angle

The specific angle between the ordinary ray and the extraordinary ray in a birefringent crystal.

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Analyzing Polarized Light

The process of using a Nicol prism to analyze the direction of polarization of an unknown light source.

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Study Notes

Nicol Prism

  • A Nicol prism is an optical device used to produce plane-polarized light. It can also act as both a polarizer and analyser.
  • Principle: Double refraction
  • Construction: A calcite crystal, cut into two halves along the diagonal, and glued together with Canada balsam. The halves have angles of 72° and 108°.
  • Light passing through: Unpolarized light from a monochromatic source enters the Nicol prism.
  • Different velocities: Ordinary and extraordinary rays travel at different speeds through the crystal.
  • Refractive indices:
    • Ordinary ray: Refractive index in the crystal is 1.658
    • Extraordinary ray: Refractive index in crystal is 1.486
    • Canada balsam: Refractive index is 1.523
  • Internal reflection: The ordinary ray is totally internally reflected at the Canada balsam layer.
  • Transmission of extraordinary ray: The extraordinary ray passes through the crystal and is plane-polarized.

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Description

Explore the intricacies of the Nicol prism, an optical device essential for producing plane-polarized light. Learn about its construction, the principles of double refraction, and how different refractive indices play a role in its function.

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