PHYSICS LAB MANUALS

Use of Wave Plates

Table I: Equipments and items required for performing the experiment.

S. No.

Required item

Utility

1

Optical Rail

Holding the entire optical system (or components)

2

polarizers

Convert unpolarized light to polarized

3

Wave plate

determine polarization state

4

Laser source

Emits laser light

5

photodetector

Measuring intensity of beam after passing through wave plate

6

White screen with Vernier scale

Measuring relative positions of Intensity maxima and (or) minima

Experimental Set-Up
Figure 1: Photograph of the Melde’s apparatus.

Experimental Set-Up
Figure 2: Working of half wave plates

Experimental Set-Up
Figure 3: Working of quarter wave plates