New Art Forms Based on Polarized Light

Jessica Newman, John Noe, Harold Metcalf
Laser Teaching Center, Stony Brook Universiy


Natural phenomena related to light and optics have long inspired many
people, especially artists. Color effects in particular are often a
fundamental building block of artistic expression. While color
effects can be created in myriad ways, only recently have artists
utilized colors created with the help of polarized light as an
artistic medium.

In 1967 the artist Austine Wood-Comarow [1] created her first
polarized light collage, or "Polage," by placing layers of clear
cellulose film between two polarizers.  She varied the thickness and
orientation of each minute piece of cellulose to create a myriad of
colors.  The artist mounts the finished piece into a light box with a
continuously rotating polarizer; this causes the colors to cycle
periodically through a sequence of patterns.

A related art form based on polarized light has been created more
recently by NASA scientist Peter Wasilewski [2], who was inspired by
the natural properties associated with light passing through ice
crystals. The artist calls this medium Frizion, or "frozen vision."
The works consist of enlarged photos of ice crystals viewed with
polarized light.

Both art forms are based on the same optical effect - that certain
materials can modify the polarization properties of light. The light
entering the medium is initially polarized using a sheet of Polaroid
film, which is similar to what's used in anti-glare sunglasses.  In
order to reach the observer's eye the light must pass through a
second polarizer. However only light whose polarization axis is
aligned with that of the second polarizer is transmitted. Color is
created by the fact that the polarized light if modified by the
substance in a way that depends on wavelength [3,4].

The purpose of this project is to explore the physical principles of
polarized light effects, and to demonstrate how these sorts of
polarization phenomena can create eye-catching artwork.

We would like thank the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)
program for the opportunity to conduct this project as part of the
Introduction to Research course, WSE187.

References�����������

1. Austine Studios. http://www.austine.com

2. Peter Wasilewski. http://www.frizion.com/frizzz/about.htm

3. "The Light Fantastic," by Donald
Lyons. http://www.austine.com/lyons.shtml

4. Polarized Light Primer, Florida State University. 
 http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/birefringenceintro.html