Scientific Calendar Event



Starts 27 May 2008 12:00
Ends 27 May 2008 20:00
Central European Time
ICTP
Leonardo da Vinci Building Lecture Room B
Strada Costiera, 11 I - 34151 Trieste (Italy)
Daylight is polarized, the strength being greatest at points in the sky at right angles to the sun, and zero at four points: above and below the sun and anti-sun. The zero-polarization points are ‘fingerprint’ singularities, around which the polarization direction makes a half-turn. Using elementary singularity theory, the polarization pattern across the whole sky can be described in a way that fits recent observations with an accuracy comparable to that of conventional elaborate multiple-scattering calculations. This recent work is a contribution to a story that started in 1817 and has been central to our understanding of polarized light.
  • M. Poropat