Glan-Taylor Prism

Glan-Taylor Prism is used for transformation of radiation with random polarization into linear-polarised radiation. The prism consists of two wedges of Iceland spar divided with a layer of air that allows using the prism in all transparent region of Iceland spar 200-2300 nm. An extraordinary ray is a working ray here. An ordinary ray after complete internal reflection is absorbed by side surfaces. High light transmittance of Glan-Taylor prism is related not only to low reflection coefficient but also to a considerably lesser magnitude of multiple reflections out of the air gap. Only about 0,1% of light transmittance in the nearest infrared spectral region and 3% of it in the ultraviolet region is lost because of multiple reflection.