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Polarizastion and Absorption Energy

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Which polarization state of light is transmitted and absorbed (and why) in regular plastic polarizers (which are actually long strings of molecules , imbedded in iodine). Is it true that light with E fields parallel to the molecular strands create acceleration along that direction, which then creates re-radiation; so that the transmitted component of the polarized light is parallel to the molecular strands? Or is the transmitted part perpendicular to these strands? Where does the energy associated with the absorption go?

Please explain with a nice diagram.

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Solution Summary

The solution uses a diagram to explain how the absorption energy acts in the context of polarization, E fields, and molecular strands.

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The transmitted part is polarized perpendicular to the strands.

The component of the electric field of the wave parallel to the strands induces the movement of electrons along the length of the strands. The result is similar to what happens at the surface of a metal:
the wave is reflected backwards because the moving electrons ...

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