Demo 24-04 Microwave Polarization

This demonstration illustrates one mechanism for the polarization of electromagnetic waves, using the apparatus as shown in Figure 1. The result is counterintuitive in that the waves that pass through the polarizer are polarized perpendicular to the direction of the conductors, not parallel to that direction.This demonstration provides insight into how polarizing material actually works for the case of electromagnetic, and therefore light, waves. In the case of a rope wave passing through a series of parallel wires, the polarization direction for the wave is parallel to the slots through which the rope must oscillate. In the case of microwaves, just the opposite result occurs. The oscillating electric field is absorbed by wires parallel to the direction of oscillation, causing electrons in the conductor to oscillate.Light waves are polarized by small iodide crystals that absorb light parallel to the axis of the crystal