Rotation of the Direction of Polarization with Dispersion

A spectacular spiral rainbow can be seen in a sugar column. When the polarizer underneath the column is rotated, the spiral rainbow also rotates.

Materials:

  • Acrylic tube with sugar solution
  • Source of bright, collimated light
  • Polarizer
  • Black skirt
  • Variac

Notes:

  • Prepare concentrated sugar solution (about 5kg of cane sugar per 6L of hot water).
  • The Variac voltage should not exceed 80V.
  • Demo is kept in Thimann Labs 130