Wollastonn.
/ˈwʊləst(ə)n/, U.S. /ˈwʊləstən/ Physics.
Wollaston('s) prism: a prism made by cementing together two prisms of calcite or quartz with their optic axes perpendicular to each other and to the incident light, which is thereby separated into two diverging beams of polarized light.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > polarization > [noun] > analysis of > instrument or device
Wollaston('s) prism1890
Poincaré sphere1918
spectropolarimeter1926
chopper1955
1890 T. Preston Theory of Light xi. 258 Wollaston's Prism.—This prism differs from that of Rochon only in that the optic axis of the first prism ABD is parallel to the face AB, so that it is merely Rochon's prism turned through a right angle.
1970 Nature 18 July 264/2 The Wollaston prism, which splits the incident starlight into two beams, polarized in mutually perpendicular planes, was placed in an adjustable mounting above the spectrograph slit.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.1890