Linear birefringence parameters determination of a multi-order wave plate via phase detection at large oblique incidence angles

Chien Chung Tsai, Hsiang Chun Wei, Cheng Hung Hsieh, Jheng Syong Wu, Chu En Lin, Chien Chou*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

In order to characterize the linear birefringence parameters (LBPs) of a multi-order wave plate (MWP) including ordinary refractive index no, extraordinary refractive index ne and the order number precisely, phase retardation measurement by means of large oblique incidence angle on the MWP has been proposed and demonstrated. However, the effects of spatial shifting and multiple reflections by the MWP depress the accuracy of the measurements significantly. Thus, we propose a retro-reflected geometry in a polarized heterodyne interferometer that can determine the LBPs of a MWP precisely. This method is not only able to reduce the spatial shifting effect but also avoids multiple reflections of the emerging beams. Experimentally, the oblique incidence angle in a range from 30° to 44° was scanned and the highest sensitivity ever for measurements of no and ne for an uncoated MWP was obtained. The detection sensitivity for the refractive indices (no, ne, no-ne) of an uncoated MWP can be up to 10-6.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3036-3041
Number of pages6
JournalOptics Communications
Volume281
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 01 06 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Linear birefringence parameters
  • Multiple-order phase retardation plate
  • Oblique incidence angle
  • Optical heterodyne interferometer

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