Two triangular prisms surrounded by air are joined together as shown. The prism on the left (#1) is in the shape of a right triangle with its upper angle =  = 90°-(as shown). The prism on the right (#2) is a right triangle with its upper angle = 45° (as shown). The two prisms have different refractive indices (n₁ and n₂). The ray reflecting off the hypotenuse of triangle #2 is totally reflected (no transmitted ray). The incidence angle = 56° and the dotted line is a surface normal. The ray connecting the two hypotenuses is parallel to the bottom surface of the prism and the beam exits the prism at a normal incidence.

(a) What is the index of refraction for prism #1 (the one on the left side)? Enter this answer in the first answer box (below).

(b) What is the minimum possible value for the refractive index of prism #2?

(c) Describe the polarization of the ray reflected off the first surface of prism #1 assuming the incident ray is unpolarized. Is it partially polarized, completed polarized or still unpolarized? If there is partial or complete polarization, what direction is the polarized axis-- perpendicular to the plane of the figure, or within the plane of the figure)?

Transcribed Image Text:

45° a n1 n2 45° a n1 n2