polariscope
Datecirca 1880
Inventory Number1997-1-1523
ClassificationPolariscope
Subject
Maker
Optical Institute A. Krüss
1796-present
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions20 × 25 × 34 cm (7 7/8 × 9 13/16 × 13 3/8 in.)
box: 25.4 × 37.5 × 25.4 cm (10 × 14 3/4 × 10 in.)
box: 25.4 × 37.5 × 25.4 cm (10 × 14 3/4 × 10 in.)
Material
DescriptionAt one end of the instrument is a slit, made of two pieces of metal that can be narrowed or widened by a screw. At the other end there is an eyepiece consisting of a ca 5 inch analyzing tube that can be rotated to turn the analyzing crystal inside (probably a Nicol prism). In between there is a circular iron light guard. It could be mounted on an optical bench or any type of stand using a metallic rod.
Signedon plaque: A. Krüss / Hamburg
FunctionThis instrument is used to look at the polarization of light. When light is polarized, only wavelengths of a determined orientation are passing through. By putting a crystal, liquid or any other transparent material in between the polarized light and the observer, the orientation of the light will be changed by a certain amount of degrees. The angular measurement of the rotated polarized light provides information about the structure of the material used in the experiment. The polariscope usually refers to an instrument that detects the presence of polarized light without measuring the exact value (in degrees) of the polarization or rotation of light rays.
ProvenanceFrom the Department of Physics, Harvard University.
Hermann & Pfister
Date: circa 1872
Accessories: pine box; instruction manual; glass tubes (2); open-ended tube; gas lamp (DW0854b)
Object number: DW0854a
Jean Baptiste François Soleil
Date: circa 1840
Accessories: eyepiece; circular supports (2)
Object number: 2015
Jean Baptiste François Soleil
Date: 1840-1860
Accessories: carrying case; objective; double refraction ocular; substage polarizer; rotating stage plate; horizontal case; stage forceps; oculars (2)
Object number: 1215
Heinrich Daniel Ruhmkorff
Date: 1860-1875
Object number: 2006-1-0013
