Researchers Develop New Tool to Measure Light Polarization

Researchers from North Carolina State University devised a new tool that could be used to detect and measure light polarization using a simpler method - by working with a single spatial sampling of light, instead of the multiple samples of light needed by older technologies.

The innovation, instead of using the traditional silicon, highlights organic polymers' distinctive properties to measure and detect polarization.

A light wave is an electromagnetic wave produced by vibrating electrical charges that travels through outer space. This light wave, then, vibrates in a multitude of directions, and the direction in which the light travels to is the light's polarization. If the light wave vibrates randomly, it is called an unpolarized light. Light from the Sun, a candle light or light in an office is an example of unpolarized light. The effect of light polarization may be predicted when light is scattered by physical objects or bounces off.

With the advancement of modern technology, unpolarized light could be converted to polarized light. Many applications of polarized light include polarized sun glasses (which reduce the glare and intensity), studies such as photo elastic stress analysis, special 3-D viewing glasses, and even determining the shape and size of viruses.

Polarization detectors, on the other hand, have also been used in numerous practical applications. One of these, according to the study's lead investigators Michael Kudenov, is on defense and security applications as polarization detectors could be "used to identify manmade materials against natural surfaces". Another popular application of the device is for atmospheric monitoring, as polarization is measured in order to track the distribution and size of particles in the atmosphere, useful for atmospheric research applications and knowing air quality.

The innovation includes three polarization detectors made from organic polymer conductors, each having their own focus of a specific orientation of the polarization. Light would pass through the three conductors, and three various orientations of polarization would be measured and the overall polarization of light would be calculated.

Previous polarization measuring technologies required multiple light samples, and had to be taken at either different times or from different points in space at the same time. This practice apparently influences the accuracy of the results, making the new device produce more accurate results.

Though still in the improvement stage, researchers are confident they will be able to reduce measurement error significantly and make the device good enough to be in competition with the best polarization detectors on the market."