1. Two Kinds of Polarized Light
Courtesy L.A. Nafie, Syracuse Univ.

2. Light beam characteristics - wavelength (frequency), intensity, polarization - determine types of transitions and information accessed.
Absorbance:
E-M wave maintain phase,
attenuate intensity in sample hn My

3. Light Polarization, Birefringent retardation
[courtesy Hinds Inc. brochure]
RR = l/4
Rlin = 0
RL = -l/4
Right Circular Polarization
Left Circular Polarization
Linear Polarization
Preserved in isotropic medium
Black and Green waves are linear polarizations at right angle,
sum to give linear polarization at 45o
Phase retard orthogonal polarizations
forward or back with birefringent medium
If shift l/4 circular, if l/2 linear