polarimeter

noun

po·​lar·​im·​e·​ter ˌpō-lə-ˈri-mə-tər 

1

: an instrument for determining the amount of polarization of light or the proportion of polarized light in a partially polarized ray

2

: a polariscope for measuring the amount of rotation of the plane of polarization especially by liquids

polarimetric

pō-ˌler-ə-ˈme-trik 

pō-ˌla-rə-ˈme-trik

adjective

polarimetry

ˌpō-lə-ˈri-mə-trē 

noun

Examples of polarimeter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With a total mission budget of $964 million, the three instruments on board include an optical spectrometer designed and built by NASA and two other polarimeters, one from the University of Maryland and one from a consortium of organizations in the Netherlands. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2024

The polarimeters will examine the composition, movement and interaction of particles of sea salt, smoke, pollutants and dust, a group collectively called aerosols, by measuring light properties. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2024

The spacecraft also has two polarimeter instruments, Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter #2 and Spectro-polarimeter for Planetary Exploration. —Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024

At the same time, PACE will use two other instruments, known as multi-angle polarimeters, to take snapshots of the atmosphere from different angles. —Matt Simon, WIRED, 8 Feb. 2024

The two polarimeter instruments on PACE will help scientists study the particle size, composition and amount of aerosols in Earth’s atmosphere across an array of wavelengths to provide a detailed portrait of the most problematic areas. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 8 Feb. 2024

Two polarimeter instruments are also onboard–Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter #2 and Spectro-polarimeter for Planetary Exploration. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 Feb. 2024

So astronomers used the VLT to stare at LAB-1 for 15 hours, using a polarimeter (a device for measuring polarized light). —Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 18 Aug. 2011

Researchers have demonstrated optical devices such as spectrometers and polarimeters made from stacks of these flat surfaces. —Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2019

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from polarization

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for polarimeter

• calorimeter
• colorimeter
• altimeter
• collimator
• delimiter
• dosimeter
• estimator
• lysimeter
• perimeter
• limiter

Medical Definition

polarimeter

noun

po·​lar·​im·​e·​ter ˌpō-lə-ˈrim-ət-ər 

1

: an instrument for determining the amount of polarization of light or the proportion of polarized light in a partially polarized ray

2

: a polariscope for measuring the amount of rotation of the plane of polarization especially by liquids

polarimetric

pō-ˌlar-ə-ˈme-trik 

adjective

polarimetry

ˌpō-lə-ˈrim-ə-trē 

noun

plural polarimetries