Uploaded May 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
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Here at Thorlabs, we are driven to accelerate the forward movement of scientific discovery and advancement! We design, manufacture, and sell products that facilitate our customers’ endeavors to solve challenging technological questions.
Photonics – the market we serve – is all around you! From the lasers incorporated into barcode scan readers at the supermarket to the widefield imaging systems used to take pictures of your retina at the optometrist, our products are constantly being used in scientific advancements that further enrich our lives.
The Thorlabs team looks to combine our product offering with unparalleled customer service to fulfill our mission to facilitate customer success.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:09 Pride in Your Work
1:00 Company Culture
4:18 Lab Snacks
4:56 Learning Opportunities
5:39 Growth Opportunities
View current openings at thorlabs.com/careers/&ytid=kZuG4aRZQwE
Here at Thorlabs, we are driven to accelerate the forward movement of scientific discovery and advancement! We design, manufacture, and sell products that facilitate our customers’ endeavors to solve challenging technological questions.
Photonics – the market we serve – is all around you! From the lasers incorporated into barcode scan readers at the supermarket to the widefield imaging systems used to take pictures of your retina at the optometrist, our products are constantly being used in scientific advancements that further enrich our lives.
The Thorlabs team looks to combine our product offering with unparalleled customer service to fulfill our mission to facilitate customer success.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:09 Pride in Your Work
1:00 Company Culture
4:18 Lab Snacks
4:56 Learning Opportunities
5:39 Growth Opportunities








![Build a Polarimeter to Find Stokes Values, Polarization State (Viewer Inspired) | Thorlabs Insights
A polarimeter, which is an optical tool used to measure the polarization state of light, can be constructed using linear polarizers, a quarter-wave plate, and an optical power sensor and meter. This video describes two methods for building a manual polarimeter, the classical method and the rotating wave plate method, and then uses both to measure a laser beams polarization state. [1] Both approaches provide measurement data that describe the polarization state in terms of the four Stokes parameters. This demonstration includes discussion of the relationships between the Stokes parameters and different polarization states, including linearly and circularly polarized light.
In this demonstration, polarization handedness is defined with respect to time and from a perspective of looking into the beam, back towards the source. This video illustrates this convention by visualizing a fixed viewing plane oriented perpendicular to the propagating beam. As the beam passes through the plane, the beams instantaneous polarization vector traces out a shape on the plane. The shape is traced out as a function of time, and the direction in which the shape is traced corresponds to the handedness of the light. The shape itself is the polarization ellipse, which is a convenient and common way to describe lights polarization state. The relationship between the polarization ellipse and the Stokes parameters is also discussed.
Prior to filming, the transmission axes of the linear polarizers and wave plate used to build these polarimeters were oriented with respect to the table. The following are links to Video Insights demonstrating the described alignment procedures:
- Align a linear polarizer horizonal or vertical with respect to the table: https://youtu.be/W9pALZ5Z8ms
- Align a linear polarizer at 45° with respect to the table: https://youtu.be/cqLPD5dL9zY
- Align a wave plates axis to be horizontal with respect to the table: https://youtu.be/P0asuzX4x-Q
- Determine whether a wave plates axis is fast or slow: https://youtu.be/XQwiPm5OtSk
[1] Beth Schaefer, Edward Collett, Robert Smyth, Daniel Barrett, and Beth Fraher Measuring the Stokes polarization parameters, Am. J. Phys. 75, 163-168 (2007).
00:00 - Introduction
00:42 - Stokes Parameters
02:55- Polarization State and Handedness
03:26 -Polarization Ellipse
03:53 - Classical Stokes Parameter Measurement
08:55 - Rotating Quarter-Wave Plate Method
Components used in this demonstration include:
- HeNe Lasers: https://www.thorlabs.com/navigation.cfm?guide_id=125&YVI=16
- Optical Isolator: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_ID=2996&YVI=16
- Linear Polarizers: https://www.thorlabs.com/navigation.cfm?guide_id=2459&YVI=16
- PRM1 Rotation Mount: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=990&pn=PRM1&YVI=16
- Wave Plates: https://www.thorlabs.com/navigation.cfm?guide_id=23&YVI=16
- WPMQ05M-633 Quarter-Wave Plate: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=713&pn=WPMQ05M-633&YVI=16
- RSPC Fixed Position Retainer: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=47&pn=RSPC&YVI=16
- SM1D12D Iris: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=1479&pn=SM1D12D&YVI=16
- SM1L20 Lens Tube: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=3307&pn=SM1L20&YVI=16
- SM1QA Quick-Release Lens Tube Adapter: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=3758&pn=SM1QA&YVI=16
- S130C Power Sensor: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=3328&pn=S130C&YVI=16
- PM400 Power Meter: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=10562&pn=PM400&YVI=16
For more photonics how-to videos, visit https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=14062&YVI=16 Build a Polarimeter to Find Stokes Values, Polarization State (Viewer Inspired) | Thorlabs Insights](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pR4r7gMyN5U/mqdefault.jpg)

