In many optics applications, it is important to use well-polarized light. However, there are situations in which randomly polarized light has distinct advantages. We demonstrate two approaches by which a polarized light beam can be totally depolarized, each using a simple setup and inexpensive components. The first method, designed for narrow spectrum light, works by combining the horizontal polarization component of the beam with the delayed vertical component. The second method, which is most suitable for broad spectrum light, uses birefringent quartz plates. In both approaches, the polarization state is characterized by Stokes parameters measured using a rotating quarter-wave plate and fixed polarizer. We measure the coherence function of the electric fields and determine the minimum delay or quartz plate thickness required for decoherence. Coherences are modelled by Gaussian or Lorentzian functions and compared with the spectral properties of the light sources.

中文翻译：

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对窄谱和广谱光去偏振的方法

在许多光学应用中，使用偏振良好的光很重要。然而，在某些情况下，随机偏振光具有明显的优势。我们展示了两种可以完全去偏振偏振光束的方法，每种方法都使用简单的设置和廉价的组件。第一种方法是为窄光谱光设计的，通过将光束的水平偏振分量与延迟的垂直分量相结合来工作。最适合广谱光的第二种方法使用双折射石英板。在这两种方法中，偏振态都由使用旋转四分之一波片和固定偏振器测量的斯托克斯参数表征。我们测量电场的相干函数并确定退相干所需的最小延迟或石英板厚度。