List of top Physics Questions on Polarization asked in IIT JAM PH

A beam of light traveling horizontally consists of an unpolarized component with intensity \( I_0 \) and a polarized component with intensity \( I_p \). The plane of polarization is oriented at an angle \( \theta \) with respect to the vertical. The figure shows the total intensity \( I_{\text{total}} \) after the light passes through a polarizer as a function of the angle \( \alpha \), that the axis of the polarizer makes with respect to the vertical. Identify the correct statement(s). 

A linearly polarized light falls on a quarter-wave plate and the emerging light is found to be elliptically polarized. The angle between the fast axis of the quarter-wave plate and the plane of polarization of the incident light can be:
Consider a retarder with refractive indices \(n_e = 1.551\) and \(n_o = 1.542\) along the extraordinary and ordinary axes, respectively. The thickness of this retarder for which a left circularly polarized light of wavelength \(600 \, \text{nm}\) will be converted into a right circularly polarized light is ........... µm. (Round off to 2 decimal places).

A beam of unpolarized light of intensity \(I_0\) falls on a system of four identical linear polarizers placed in a line as shown in the figure. The transmission axes of any two successive polarizers make an angle of \(30^\circ\) with each other. If the transmitted light has intensity \(I\), the ratio \(\dfrac{I}{I_0}\) is: 

Which one of the following arrangements of optical components can be used to distinguish between unpolarised light and circularly polarised light? 

The plane of polarisation of a plane-polarised light rotates by $60^\circ$ after passing through a wave plate. The pass-axis of the wave plate is at an angle $\alpha$ with respect to the plane of polarisation of the incident light. The wave plate and $\alpha$ are
Unpolarized light of intensity \( I_0 \) passes through a polarizer \( P_1 \). The light coming out of the polarizer falls on a quarter-wave plate with its optical axis at 45° with respect to the polarization axis of \( P_1 \) and then passes through another polarizer \( P_2 \) with its polarization axis perpendicular to that of \( P_1 \). The intensity of the light coming out of \( P_2 \) is \( I \). The ratio \( \frac{I_0}{I} \) is:
A dielectric sphere of radius \( R \) has constant polarization \( \mathbf{P} = P_0 \hat{z} \) so that the field inside the sphere is \( \mathbf{E} = - \frac{P_0}{3 \epsilon_0} \hat{z} \). Then, which of the following is (are) correct?
Unpolarized light is incident on a combination of a polarizer, a \( \lambda/2 \) plate and a \( \lambda/4 \) plate kept one after the other. What will be the output polarization for the following configurations?
Configuration 1: Axes of the polarizer, the \( \lambda/2 \) plate and the \( \lambda/4 \) plate are all parallel to each other.
Configuration 2: The \( \lambda/2 \) plate is rotated by 45° with respect to configuration 1.
Configuration 3: The \( \lambda/4 \) plate is rotated by 45° with respect to configuration 1.
Unpolarized light of intensity \( I_0 \) passes through a polarizer \( P_1 \). The light coming out of the polarizer falls on a quarter-wave plate with its optical axis at 45° with respect to the polarization axis of \( P_1 \) and then passes through another polarizer \( P_2 \) with its polarization axis perpendicular to that of \( P_1 \). The intensity of the light coming out of \( P_2 \) is \( I \). The ratio \( \frac{I_0}{I} \) is:
A dielectric sphere of radius \( R \) has constant polarization \( \mathbf{P} = P_0 \hat{z} \) so that the field inside the sphere is \( \mathbf{E} = - \frac{P_0}{3 \epsilon_0} \hat{z} \). Then, which of the following is (are) correct?
Unpolarized light is incident on a combination of a polarizer, a \( \lambda/2 \) plate and a \( \lambda/4 \) plate kept one after the other. What will be the output polarization for the following configurations?
Configuration 1: Axes of the polarizer, the \( \lambda/2 \) plate and the \( \lambda/4 \) plate are all parallel to each other.
Configuration 2: The \( \lambda/2 \) plate is rotated by 45° with respect to configuration 1.
Configuration 3: The \( \lambda/4 \) plate is rotated by 45° with respect to configuration 1.