SC143 Introductory and Intermediate Topics in Polarized Light

Tuesday, May 6, 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Robert Fisher; RA Fisher Associates LLC, USA

Course Description
This course will provide attendees with a thorough and complete picture of beginning and intermediate topics in polarized light. Emphasis will be placed upon simple, clear explanations, taking examples from everyday experiences. There will be many demonstrations, including hands-on activities. Considerable material will be appropriate for those who wish to become familiar with the fundamentals. Attendees will learn to appreciate a light beam's "polarization" degree of freedom, and attendees will learn how to use various polarization-modifying elements (linear polarizers, half-wave plates, Faraday rotators, etc.) to convert the beam's state of polarization from one form to another. There will be a strong emphasis on assuring that each participant retains a well-founded visualization of each concept, and the reliance upon mathematics will be kept to a minimum. The intent is that each participant retains a sound grasp of each concept. Pertinent references and review materials are identified. Discussions will include linear polarizers and states of linear polarization, mechanical strains in transparent materials, circularly polarized light, the reflective properties of polarized light, selected applications (including laser switchouts and laser amplifier isolation), optical activity, Faraday rotation and Faraday isolation, and how to find the c-axis of a crystal.

Benefits and Learning Objectives
This course should enable you to:

• Understand the different states of pure polarization.
• Understand how to convert one state of polarization to another.
• Measure whether a beam is linearly or circularly polarized.
• Know how the different polarization-modifying elements (half-wave plate, quarter-wave plate, Faraday rotator, etc.) operate.
• Apply the proper polarization-modifying element to alter the state of polarization of a polarized beam.
• Learn how polarization changes upon reflection.
• Understand the difference between optical activity and Faraday rotation.

Intended Audience
This course will be equally suitable for scientists, engineers, technicians, photographic enthusiasts, and managers who need a fundamental understanding of polarized light.

Instructor Biography
Robert A. Fisher is a private consultant with interests in nonlinear optics, carbon dioxide lasers, molecular spectroscopy, X-ray lasers, optical phase conjugation and modern optics. He is a fellow of OSA and SPIE, as well as a senior member of the IEEE. He was a member of the Board of Directors of SPIE (2002-2004). He has authored more than 60 publications. Fisher is the editor of the book Optical Phase Conjugation. He is a past associate editor for the journals Applied Optics, and Optics Letters; and he has chaired six SPIE Conferences on Nonlinear Optics. He was a topical editor for Optics Letters, the chair of OSA's Excellence in Engineering Award Committee, on SPIE's Scholarship Committee, and on the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 CLEO Program Nonlinear Optics Subcommittees, which he chaired in 2006 and 2007.