Variable Ultra-broadband and Narrowband Composite Polarization Retarders
arXiv:1211.4358 · doi:10.1364/AO.51.007466
Abstract
We propose and experimentally demonstrate novel types of composite sequences of half-wave and quarter-wave polarization retarders, either permitting operation at ultra-broad spectral bandwidth or narrow bandwidth. The retarders are composed of stacked standard half-wave retarders and quarter-wave retarders of equal thickness. To our knowledge, these home-built devices outperform all commercially available compound retarders, made of several birefringent materials.
5 figures, 9 pages