Abstract
Phase retardation between two orthogonal circularly polarized light waves that propagate in an optical active medium is proportional to its optical activity. The measurement of optical activity of a quartz depolarizer in terms of the phase difference of two orthogonal circularly polarized waves is proposed. A circularly polarized optical heterodyne interferometer with a Zeeman laser to measure the optical activity of a quartz crystal is demonstrated experimentally. The accuracy of the measurement is discussed. In addition, the effect of elliptical polarization and nonorthogonality of linearly polarized light waves of a Zeeman laser on the optical activity measurement is analyzed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 5096-5100 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Applied Optics |
| Volume | 42 |
| Issue number | 25 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 20 08 2003 |
| Externally published | Yes |