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In a recent number of the Zeitschrift fur Instrumentenkunde (iv., 42-50, February, 1884), Dr. K. Feussner of Karlsruhe has given a detailed description of a polarizing prism lately devised by him, which presents several points of novelty, and for which certain advantages are claimed. The paper also contains an account, although not an exhaustive one, of the various polarizing prisms which have from time to time been constructed by means of different combinations of Iceland spar. The literature of this subject is scattered and somewhat difficult of access, and moreover only a small part of it has hitherto been translated into English; and it would appear therefore that a brief abstract of the paper may not be without service to those among the readers of Nature who may be unacquainted with the original memoirs, or who may not have the necessary references at hand.
Following the order adopted by Dr. Feussner, the subject may be divided into two parts:
In comparing the various forms of polarizing prisms, the main points which need attention are - the angular extent of the field of view, the direction of the emergent polarized ray, whether it is shifted to one side of, or remains symmetrical to the long axis of the prism; the proportion which the length of the prism bears to its breadth; and lastly, the position of the terminal faces, whether perpendicular or inclined to the long axis. These requirements are fulfilled in different degrees by the following methods of construction:
Figs. 1., 2., and 3.
1. The Nicol Prism (Edin. New Phil. Journal, 1828, vi., 83). - This (Fig. 1), as is well known, is constructed from a rhombohedron of Iceland spar, the length of which must be fully three times as great as the width. The end faces are cut off in such a manner that the angle of 72° which they originally form with the lateral edge of the rhombohedron is reduced to 68°. The prism is then cut in two in a plane perpendicular to the new end surfaces, the section being carried obliquely from one obtuse corner of the prism to the other, in the direction of its length. The surfaces of this section, after having been carefully polished, are cemented together again by means of Canada balsam. A ray of light, on entering the prism, is separated by the double refraction of the calc-spar into an ordinary and an extraordinary ray; the former undergoes total reflection at the layer of balsam at an incidence which allows the extraordinary ray to be transmitted; the latter, therefore, passes through unchanged.
This principle of obtaining a single polarized ray by means of total reflection of the other is common to all the forms of prism now to be described.
Dr. Feussner gives a mathematical analysis of the paths taken by the two polarized rays within the Nicol prism, and finds that the emergent extraordinary ray can include an angular field of 29°, but that this extreme value holds good only for rays incident upon that portion of the end surface which is near to the obtuse corner, and that from thence it gradually decreases until the field includes an angle of only about half the previous amount. He finds, moreover, that, although of course the ray emerges parallel to its direction of incidence, yet that the zone of polarized light is shifted to one side of the central line. Also that the great length of the Nicol - 3.28 times its breadth - is not only an inconvenience, but owing to the large pieces of spar thus required for its construction, prisms of any but small size become very expensive. To this it may be added that there is a considerable loss of light by reflection from the first surface, owing to its inclined position in regard to the long axis of the prism.
Figs. 4., 5., and 6.
It is with the view of obviating these defects that the modifications represented in Figs. 2 to 6 have been devised.
2. The Shortened Nicol Prism. - This arrangement of the Nicol prism is constructed by Dr. Steeg and Reuter of Homburg v.d.H. For the sake of facility of manufacture, the end surfaces are cleavage planes, and the oblique cut, instead of being perpendicular, makes with these an angle of about 84°. By this alteration the prism becomes shorter, and is now only 2.83 times its breadth; but if Canada balsam is still used as the cement, the field will occupy a very unsymmetrical position in regard to the long axis. If balsam of copaiba is made use of, the index of refraction of which is 1.50, a symmetrical field of about 24° will be obtained. A prism of this kind has also been designed by Prof. B. Hasert of Eisenach (Pogg. Ann., cxiii., 189), but its performance appears to be inferior to the above.
3. The Nicol Prism with Perpendicular Ends. - The terminal surfaces in this prism are perpendicular to the long axis, and the sectional cut makes with them an angle of about 75°. The length of the prism is 3.75 times its breadth, and if the cement has an index of refraction of 1.525, the field is symmetrically disposed, and includes an angle of 27°. Prisms of this kind have been manufactured by Dr. Steeg, Mr. C.D. Ahrens, and others.
4. The Foucault Prism (Comptes Rendus, 1857, xlv., 238). - This construction differs from all those hitherto mentioned, in that a film of air is employed between the two cut surfaces as the totally reflecting medium instead of a layer of cement. The two halves of the prism are kept in position, without touching each other, by means of the mounting. The length of the prism is in this way much reduced, and amounts to only 1.528 times its breadth. The end surfaces are cleavage planes, and the sectional cut makes with them an angle of 59°. The field, however, includes not more than about 8°, so that this prism can be used only in the case of nearly parallel rays; and in addition to this the pictures which may be seen through it are to some extent veiled and indistinct, owing to repeated internal reflection.
 
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