Polarization Studies in the Vacuum Ultraviolet*

Abstract

A method is presented, well suited to the ultraviolet region, for determining the degree of polarization produced by a polarizer at a given wavelength and for determining the polarization introduced by a grating monochromator. An analysis is made of the degree of polarization required by a polarizer for use in optical studies to determine, for example, the reflectance of a surface for light of parallel or perpendicular polarization. Data are given in the spectral region 500 to 1300 Å for gold and silver reflection-type polarizers and for a grating used in the Seya geometry.