UV polarized light photography

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Luck guided me to finding a set of laboratory UV-VIS-IR polarizers and waveplates,
so here a first experiment, presented as a animated gif showing images at various
polarizer angles...

 

[Asher Kelman]

I always wanted to see something like that!

So do we have an idea what control if any insects might have in examining a surface?

Asher

 

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

I always wanted to see something like that!

So do we have an idea what control if any insects might have in examining a surface?

Asher

Well, it is quite known that bees for instance can see the polarization angle of UV light.
And even use that to navigate home!!

 

[Asher Kelman]

Well, it is quite known that bees for instance can see the polarization angle of UV light.
And even use that to navigate home!!

What do we know if it’s use to them in navigation . How does it make a difference

 

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

What do we know if it’s use to them in navigation . How does it make a difference

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3049011/

 

[Asher Kelman]

Very helpful and convincing!

 

[Peter Dexter]

A very clever presentation Klaus and most interesting article..

 

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Thanks guys!!

 

[Asher Kelman]

Here now one using a different polarizer, without sharpness issues while rotating...

Do we know how the insect located thecright angle of the lights polarization?

Asher

 

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Do we know how the insect located thecright angle of the lights polarization?

Asher

Well, I guess how we do it too - 90 degrees apart is darkest vs lightest,
see yourself when looking at the sky, 90 degrees to the sun is the bluest sky =
highest polarization!