Electro-optic sensors: a precise in-situ alignment of quarter-wave plate

Franjo Cecelja; Ridwan Jung; Bala Balachandran; Michael Berwick

doi:10.1117/12.221701

25 September 1995 Electro-optic sensors: a precise in-situ alignment of quarter-wave plate

Franjo Cecelja, Ridwan Jung, Bala Balachandran, Michael Berwick

Proceedings Volume 2510, Fiber Optic and Laser Sensors XIII; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.221701
Event: European Symposium on Optics for Environmental and Public Safety, 1995, Munich, Germany

Abstract

For a highly accurate electro-optic sensor, the tolerance of the quarter-wave plate phase retardation should be at least (lambda) /250, and the azimuthal alignment error should be within +/- 0.5 degrees. Also the phase retardation depends on the angle of incidence, which makes the alignment more difficult. The method we present uses the extinction ratio as a measure of the quality of alignment. It enables in-situ alignment of the quarter-wave plate to the phase retardation accuracy of +/- 0.5 degrees using only the components of the electro- optic sensor. The method can easily be generalized for any application and for an automated and direct measurement of the phase retardation of a wave plate with high accuracy.

Citation Download Citation

Franjo Cecelja, Ridwan Jung, Bala Balachandran, and Michael Berwick "Electro-optic sensors: a precise in-situ alignment of quarter-wave plate", Proc. SPIE 2510, Fiber Optic and Laser Sensors XIII, (25 September 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.221701

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available