Polarization mixing error in transmission ellipsometry with two acousto-optical modulators

Yuanlong Deng; Jinlong Chai; Xuejin Li; Yubin Wu; Gang Xu

doi:10.1117/1.2955770

1 July 2008 Polarization mixing error in transmission ellipsometry with two acousto-optical modulators

Yuanlong Deng, Jinlong Chai, Xuejin Li, Yubin Wu, Gang Xu

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 47, Issue 7, 075601 (July 2008). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.2955770

Abstract

A transmission ellipsometer with the configuration of modified Mach-Zehnder heterodyne interferometer is demonstrated. Two acousto-optical modulators are employed to generate a 20-kHz beat frequency. The scheme offers high resistance to environmental turbulence because of the interferometric components passing through the same path. A single layer of indium tin oxide on a glass substrate was measured, and an error up to several nanometers of the sample thickness is observed. The polarization mixing error is mainly due to the imperfection of polarizing beamsplitters (PBSs) and to the elliptical polarization and nonorthogonality of the light beams produced by the laser source and wave plates. The mechanism governing the error and its influence on measurement accuracy is analyzed with the Jones matrix method. In contrast with interferometric reflection ellipsometry using a Zeeman laser, the theoretical analysis indicates that only second-order error is introduced in this system. The elliptical polarization and nonorthogonality, occurring only before the light splitting, have little influence on measurement accuracy; the imperfection of PBSs is the major contributor to the polarization mixing error.

©(2008) Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

Citation Download Citation

Yuanlong Deng, Jinlong Chai, Xuejin Li, Yubin Wu, and Gang Xu "Polarization mixing error in transmission ellipsometry with two acousto-optical modulators," Optical Engineering 47(7), 075601 (1 July 2008). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.2955770

Published: 1 July 2008

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