Difference Between Circular Polarizer and Linear Polarizer

Circular Polarizer vs Linear Polarizer
 

Polarization is a very important concept discussed in the field of optics. Circular polarization and linear polarization are two types of polarizations. Circular polarizers and linear polarizers are devices that are used to achieve polarization. Polarization is used widely in optical experiments, sunglasses, photography filters, tints and in many other applications. It is vital to have a good understanding in both circular polarization and linear polarization in order to excel in optics. In this article, we are going to discuss what polarization is, what circular polarization and linear polarization are, their definitions, the similarities between circular polarization and linear polarization, their applications, and finally the difference between circular polarizers and linear polarizers.

What is Linear Polarizer?

To understand linear polarizer, one must first understand linear polarization. Polarization is simply defined as a certain type of orientation of oscillations in a wave. Polarization of a wave describes the direction of oscillation of a wave with respect to the direction of propagation; therefore, only transverse waves display polarization. The oscillation of particles in a longitudinal wave is always in the direction of propagation; therefore, they do not display polarization. . Imagine a wave travelling through space; if the wave is a mechanical wave, particle is affected by the wave and oscillates. If the particle oscillates on a fixed line perpendicular to the direction of propagation, the wave is said to be linearly polarized. There are two types of linear polarizers. One is the absorptive polarizer, and the other is the beam splitting polarizer. The absorptive polarizer absorbs light of every other orientation other than the desired polarization. The beam splitting polarizer splits the incident into two perpendicular components and removes one component from the beam. In this sense, the beam splitting polarizer gives a better intensity than the absorptive polarizer.

What is Circular Polarizer?

Circular polarizer is a device that is used to obtain circular polarization. To understand a circular polarizer, one must first understand the circular polarization. In circular polarization, the hypothetical particle is moving in a circle perpendicular to the direction of propagation. There are two types of circular polarization. Namely they are clockwise and anticlockwise polarization. These are also known as left handed polarization and right handed polarization. Circular polarization is obtained by sending unpolarized light through a linear polarizer and a quarter wave plate. Circular polarizers are mainly used as photographic filters and lenses of stereoscopic glasses (which are commonly known as 3D glasses).