what is nicol prism?

Question

why the material of nicol prism can differentiate two plane polarised rays?

Answer 1

Nicol prism (nĭk'əl) , optical device invented (1828) by William Nicol of Edinburgh. It consists essentially of a crystal of calcite, or Iceland spar, that is cut at an angle into two equal pieces and joined together again with Canada balsam. An ordinary beam of light entering the crystal undergoes double refraction, i.e., is split into two parts, each of which is affected in a different way. One of these parts, the so-called ordinary ray, undergoes total reflection at the Canada-balsam joint and is turned off from its course to pass out at one side of the crystal. The other ray, the extraordinary ray, passes on through the crystal. By means of this device a beam of light can be polarized (see polarization of light) or a beam of polarized light can be subjected to analysis. The principle involved has been applied to the microscope in the illumination of the field..

Answer 2

Nicol Prism

Answer 3

A Nicol prism is a type of polarizer, an optical device used to generate a beam of polarized light. It was the first type of polarizing prism to be invented, in 1828 by William Nicol (1770-1851) of Edinburgh. It consists of a rhombohedral crystal of calcite (Iceland spar) that has been cut at a 68° angle, split diagonally, and then joined again using Canada balsam.

Unpolarized light enters one end of the crystal and is split into two polarized rays by birefringence. One of these rays (the ordinary or o-ray) experiences a refractive index of no = 1.658 and at the balsam layer (refractive index n = 1.55) undergoes total internal reflection at the interface, and is reflected to the side of the prism. The other ray (the extraordinary or e-ray) experiences a lower refractive index (ne = 1.486), is not reflected at the interface, and leaves through the second half of the prism as plane polarized light.

Nicol prisms were once widely used in microscopy and polarimetry, and the term "crossed Nicols" (abbreviated as XN) is still used to refer to observation of a sample between orthogonally orientated polarizers. In most instruments, however, Nicol prisms have been supplanted by other types of polarizers such as Polaroid sheets and Glan-Thompson prisms.

Answer 4

A Nicol prism is a type of polarizer, an optical device used to generate a beam of polarized light. It was the first type of polarizing prism to be invented, in 1828 by William Nicol (1770-1851) of Edinburgh. It consists of a rhombohedral crystal of calcite (Iceland spar) that has been cut at a 68° angle, split diagonally, and then joined again using Canada balsam.

Unpolarized light enters one end of the crystal and is split into two polarized rays by birefringence. One of these rays (the ordinary or o-ray) experiences a refractive index of no = 1.658 and at the balsam layer (refractive index n = 1.55) undergoes total internal reflection at the interface, and is reflected to the side of the prism. The other ray (the extraordinary or e-ray) experiences a lower refractive index (ne = 1.486), is not reflected at the interface, and leaves through the second half of the prism as plane polarized light.

Nicol prisms were once widely used in microscopy and polarimetry, and the term "crossed Nicols" (abbreviated as XN) is still used to refer to observation of a sample between orthogonally orientated polarizers. In most instruments, however, Nicol prisms have been supplanted by other types of polarizers such as Polaroid sheets and Glan-Thompson prisms.

Answer 5

A Nicol prism is a type of polarizer, an optical device used to generate a beam of polarized light. It was the first type of polarizing prism to be invented, in 1828 by William Nicol (1770-1851) of Edinburgh. It consists of a rhombohedral crystal of calcite (Iceland spar) that has been cut at a 68° angle, split diagonally, and then joined again using Canada balsam.

Unpolarized light enters one end of the crystal and is split into two polarized rays by birefringence. One of these rays (the ordinary or o-ray) experiences a refractive index of no = 1.658 and at the balsam layer (refractive index n = 1.55) undergoes total internal reflection at the interface, and is reflected to the side of the prism. The other ray (the extraordinary or e-ray) experiences a lower refractive index (ne = 1.486), is not reflected at the interface, and leaves through the second half of the prism as plane polarized light.

Nicol prisms were once widely used in microscopy and polarimetry, and the term "crossed Nicols" (abbreviated as XN) is still used to refer to observation of a sample between orthogonally orientated polarizers. In most instruments, however, Nicol prisms have been supplanted by other types of polarizers such as Polaroid sheets and Glan-Thompson prisms.

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
what is nicol prism?
why the material of nicol prism can differentiate two plane polarised rays?

Answer 7

"Unpolarized light enters one end of the crystal and is split into two polarized rays by birefringence. One of these rays (the ordinary or o-ray) experiences a refractive index of no = 1.658 and at the balsam layer (refractive index n = 1.55) undergoes total internal reflection at the interface, and is reflected to the side of the prism. The other ray (the extraordinary or e-ray) experiences a lower refractive index (ne = 1.486), is not reflected at the interface, and leaves through the second half of the prism as plane polarized light."

For some materials (calcite, quartz) the index of refraction is a function of the polarization direction, varying between one value for vertical to a different value for horizontal polarization. By cutting the crystal at the proper angle, and then joining it with a transparant cement whose index of refraction is somewhere between the two, one of the polarizations can be made to totally internally reflect at the interface between to the two halves of the crystal. The reflected component is therefore removed from the incoming beam of light, leaving the other orthogonal polarization to pass.

Answer 8

actually d thing is a light ray is consists of two rays ordinary n extraordinary when dis ray falls on nicol prism the e-rays get totally reflected backn o-rays passes through it n we gt d polarized light

Answer 9

nicol prism is used to polarise light vibrating in all planes to a ray of light vibrating in a single plane

Answer 10

because she was smoking dope and driving the wrong direction on the expressway oh sorry thot that was Nicole Ritchie