Open AccessCompact spatial polariscope for light polarization state analysis
Author(s) -
Władysław A. Woźniak,
Piotr Kurzynowski
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.16.010471
Subject(s) - birefringence , optics , polarization (electrochemistry) , light intensity , azimuth , physics , circular polarization , photoelasticity , spectrum analyzer , linear polarization , laser , chemistry , thermodynamics , solid mechanics , microstrip
A new setup established to measure the light polarization state and the birefringent media parameters is proposed. The described setup consists of two pairs of the linear Wollaston compensators and circular compensators which form a set of two spatially modulated elliptical compensators. These compensators could be used separately as a spatial generator of polarization states and as an analyzer. Using them together allows us to establish a polariscopic setup in which the birefringent media parameters could be measured. When analyzing both the light polarization state and the birefringent media parameters the singular points in the output light intensity appear. The coordinates of these points depend linearly on the azimuth and ellipticity angles of the examined light or on the eigenvectors of the birefringent medium, while the measured light maximum value corresponds to the phase shift for the measurements of the birefringent medium parameters. Neither movable parts nor active elements are needed and no complicated analysis of output light should be made to calculate the desired quantities.