Polarizing Šolc filters: a pedagogical derivation in the complex plane

Abstract

For the theoretical study of Šolc filters, used in particular in solar observatories or coronagraphs, we use the complex plane representation of polarization, which had apparently never been done before in this context. This avoids the cumbersome matrix calculus, for the two models of basic Šolc filters. That technique seems promising for further studies on the important question of the apodisation of these filters.

Keywords

• Polarization
• Birefringent filters
• Šolc filters
• Apodisation
• Complex representation (of polarization)
• Malus’ law (in complex representation)