Simultaneous measurement of linear and circular birefringence with heterodyne interferometry

Hiroyuki Kowa; Kanae Muraki; Mitsuo Tsukiji; Atsuo Takayanagi; Norihiro Umeda

doi:10.1117/12.246241

16 August 1996 Simultaneous measurement of linear and circular birefringence with heterodyne interferometry

Hiroyuki Kowa, Kanae Muraki, Mitsuo Tsukiji, Atsuo Takayanagi, Norihiro Umeda

Proceedings Volume 2873, International Symposium on Polarization Analysis and Applications to Device Technology; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.246241
Event: International Symposium on Polarization Analysis and Applications to Device Technology, 1996, Yokohama, Japan

Abstract

We present a novel technique to measure both linear and circular birefringence, simultaneously. This technique is based on an optical heterodyne interferometry which is performed by an orthogonally polarized two frequency laser. Two orthogonal components of the optical beat signal are detected by two-phase lock-in amplifier. The two components change sinusoidally with the rotation of azimuth angle of polarization devices. The retardation and the orientation of linear birefringence and the rotation angle of circular birefringence can be calculated by applying a Fourier analysis to the two sinusoidal variations. The measurement sensitivity for this method is verified by using the combination of a Babinet Soleil compensator and a half-wave plate as a sample. It is demonstrated that the birefringence of commercially available twisted nematic liquid crystal cell where a driving voltage is applied can be measured by using the proposed technique.

Citation Download Citation

Hiroyuki Kowa, Kanae Muraki, Mitsuo Tsukiji, Atsuo Takayanagi, and Norihiro Umeda "Simultaneous measurement of linear and circular birefringence with heterodyne interferometry", Proc. SPIE 2873, International Symposium on Polarization Analysis and Applications to Device Technology, (16 August 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.246241

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