Optical splitter splits one beam into two short beams
A beamsplitter is an optical device designed to divide a beam of light into two separate paths—one transmitted and one reflected. This is usually done by applying a thin-film coating on a glass substrate and angling the element relative to the incoming light. It is a crucial part of many optical experimental and measurement systems, such as interferometers, also finding widespread application in fibre optic telecommunications. Is it possible to split a single light beam as on the diagram below, where the source of light S sends a beam of light A to the optical device X and device X splits beam A into beams B and C which are both colinear and perpendicular to A? What optical device X can accomplish this task? B C | A. a laser beam) into two (or sometimes more) beams, which may or may not have the same optical power (radiant flux).
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