Barber pole, white light

White light is first passed through a linear polarizing sheet, then through a thick sugar solution held in a transparent cylinder. Looking from the side, spiraling rainbow stripes are revealed.

This photograph shows a graduated cylinder, held sideways, filled with a thick transparent sugar solution. A white-light flashlight beam is directed through a linear polarizing sheet, and then down the length of the cylinder. Against the black back-drop, spiraling rainbow colors appear.

Graduated cylinder, 500 ml: U3-6; flashlight: R2-3; linear polarizing sheet: J3-4