polarimeter

American  

[poh-luh-rim-i-ter] / ˌpoʊ ləˈrɪm ɪ tər /

noun

Optics.

1. an instrument for measuring the amount of light received from a given source as a function of its state of polarization.

2. a form of polariscope for measuring the angular rotation of the plane of polarization.

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polarimeter British  

/ ˌpəʊləˈrɪmɪtə, ˌpəʊlərɪˈmɛtrɪk /

noun

1. an instrument for measuring the amount of polarization of light

2. an instrument for measuring the rotation of the plane of polarization of light as a result of its passage through a liquid or solution See optical activity

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Other Word Forms

• polarimetric adjective
• polarimetry noun

Etymology

Origin of polarimeter

1860–65; < Medieval Latin polāri ( s ) polar + -meter

Example Sentences

They'll have a polarimeter to examine the directional quality of the corona's light and a spectrometer to look for the behaviour of excited iron atoms.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2024

"I can't wait to see the Compton polarimeter get developed for things like the EIC," Zec said.

From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2024

Think of the Compton polarimeter as a pit road for electrons coming off the racetrack-shaped CEBAF.

From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2024

“If we look at clouds and see polarization, that would be a smoking gun,” says astrophysicist Philip Kaaret of the University of Iowa, who worked on a rival polarimeter proposal that lost out to IXPE.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 2, 2021

Optical Rotation.—For this purpose a special instrument, known as a polarimeter, is required, details of the construction and use of which would be out of place here.

From The Handbook of Soap Manufacture by Simmons, W. H.