Quality Assurance of Precision Optics: Polarimetry of Stressed Optics

This video, created by the National Center for Optics and Photonics Education, discusses polarimetry as it develops in stressed optics. As defined in the video, polarimetry is "the measurement and interpretation of the polarization of transverse waves," such as radio or, as in the case of this activity, light waves. Using a light table, participants in the lab use a polarimeter and place magnifying lenses between polarizers. As viewers will see, reflections in many colors appear as the polarizers are moved. The majority of the lab occurs as participants place other reflective objects – knives, spoons, and so on – between the lens and the light, so that they can see how polarimetry works.

The video runs 4:45 minutes in length.