Nicol prism
optics
Quick Summary
The Nicol prism is a device used in optics to produce or analyze polarized light. Invented by William Nicol, it is constructed from two precisely cut calcite prisms cemented together with Canada balsam. This specific construction causes the prism to transmit only light waves vibrating in one direction, effectively creating a plane-polarized beam from ordinary light. The cement's refractive index is crucial; it allows the ordinary ray to be totally reflected, while the extraordinary ray is transmitted.12
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