Question

A mixture of unpolarized and circularly polarized light is passed through a quarter wave plate and then through an analyzer is rotated:

(a) there will be no variation in intensity

(b) there are maxima and minima in intensity with I_min = 0 

(c) there are maxima and minima in intensity with  I_min  ≠ 0

(d) the result depends on the orientation of the quarter wave plate 

Answer 1

Correct option  (c) there are maxima and minima in intensity with I_min  ≠ 0

Explanation:

When unpolarized with circular polarized light is passed through a quarter wave plate, it becomes a plane polarized light and hence if it again passes through an analyzer the intensity becomes maximum and minimum due to the rotation of analyzer but minima never become zero.