Waveplate Measurement

Wave-plates are an important optical component for light polarization-related measurements. The PEM can be employed to determine both the amplitude and orientation of the retardation of a wave-plate.

SET-UP EQUATION

I_1f: 1f signal
I_2f: 2f signal
A₀: PEM’s retardation setting
J₂(A₀): 2^nd order Bessel function
J₁(A₀): 1^st order Bessel function

In this set-up, either the fast axis or the slow axis of the quarter-wave plate is required to be parallel to the PEM’s optical axis. The positive and negative signs of I_2f, after calibration, indicate which axis (slow or fast) it is.

APPLICATIONS

Wave-plate inspection and characterization

SUGGESTED PRODUCTS:

I/FS50 with NIO-1
Exicor® Birefringence Measurement Systems

FURTHER READING

J. C. Kemp, Basic Laboratory set-up for various measurements possible with the photoelastic modulator, Application note, Hinds Instruments, Inc. (1975)

J. Schellman and H. P. Jensen, “Optical Spectroscopy of Oriented Molecules,” Chem. Rev. 87, 1359-1399 (1987).

T. C. Oakberg, “Measurement of Wave-plate Retardation Using a Photoelastic Modulator,” SPIE, 3121, 19-22 (1997)

Contact us for more information on PEMs and Waveplate Measurements.