Picture of the Day

Birefringence on Plastic Ruler

February 3, 2025   ―-  Archive

Birefringence on a plastic ruler. Polarized light from a computer monitor is coming through the ruler from behind, while a camera with a polarizing filter on it has the filter turned to block as much light as possible from the monitor. The only light that appears is that whose polarization has been altered by going through the ruler.

Authors: Richard Hollos and Stefan Hollos