Experiments on the depolarization of light as exhibited by various mineral, animal, and vegetable bodies, with a reference of the phenomena to the general principles of polarization. By David Brewster, LL. D. F. R. S. Edin. and F. S. A. In a letter addressed to the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. K. B. P. R. S
When a ray of light has been so modified by reflection or refraction that in certain planes it is not divided into two parts by a prism of Iceland spar, that ray is said to be polarized; but it may again, by several means, be rendered divisible, and is then said to be depolarized. The object of the...
| Published in: | Abstracts of the Papers Printed in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The Royal Society
1833
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspl.1815.0003 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspl.1815.0003 |
| Summary: | When a ray of light has been so modified by reflection or refraction that in certain planes it is not divided into two parts by a prism of Iceland spar, that ray is said to be polarized; but it may again, by several means, be rendered divisible, and is then said to be depolarized. The object of the author, in this letter, is to comprise experiments on the depolarizing properties of a great variety of substances at the same time, and thence to deduce the general principles on which the various degrees or modes in which they exhibit this property depend. Dr. Brewster has already, in a former communication, described the general phenomena of depolarization by mica, calcareous spar, topaz, and other regularly crystallized bodies, which have two neutral axes at right angles to each other, and two depolarizing axes also at right angles to each other, but making angles of 45° with each of the neutral axes. |
|---|