Light transmission of oblique rays in dichroic linear polarizers

From geometric and vector analysis, the transmission of oblique incident light rays on a dichroic linear polarizer is calculated. The result is used to explain the formation of the Maltese cross when two parallel linear polarizers have their transmission axes mutually orthogonal. The variation in the shape of the Maltese cross when the transmission axes are not completely orthogonal is also considered. The theoretical results are compared with those obtained experimentally.