Challenge 
Light is an electromagnetic wave, with
- Amplitude perceived as brightness
- Wavelength perceived as color
- But the orientation of the
wave oscillation is not visible
Properties of Polarization:
- All orientations equally present
--> degree of polarization 0% - Only one strong orientation
--> degree of polarization 100% - All orientations are present
but at different strength
--> partially polarized, e.g. 50% - Dominant angle of polarization
--> another degree of freedom
Where does it come from?
Most light sources (except lasers) are unpolarized
- Reflection gives polarized light, think of water surfaces, glass, beamsplitters surface inspection, ellipsometry
- Reflection at non-metallic surfaces like human skin, plants, plastics, object classification
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Nanostructures can create polarization in transmission and reflection, useful for polarization filters, carbon fiber inspection
