What is Polarization Engineering?
By Russell Chipman College of Optical Sciences University of Arizona A new specialty is emerging in optical engineering: Polarization Engineering. Increasing numbers of firms interviewing at Optical Sciences are specifically requesting students with advanced skills in polarization. Polarization critical optical systems require careful attention to a myriad polarization issues in order to perform accurately and be manufactured with high yield. Such systems include liquid crystal displays and projection systems, interferometers, laser radar systems, remote sensing, fiber optic communications, fluorescence microscopy, biomedical tests, and semiconductor manufacture and test equipment. Engineering such polarization critical systems requires the interfacing of many optics disciplines including thin films, anisotropic materials, polarization elements, optical design, polarization ray tracing, polarimetry, polarization in sources and detectors, polarization of the natural environment, and mor
