Senarmont compensators with incorrect quarter wave plate and
without calibrated quarter wave plates
P. Kurzynowski, W. A. Woźniak, F. Ratajczyk
Institute of Physics, Wrocław University of Technology, Poland
Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław
ABSTRACT
The first purpose of the article is to discuss the Senarmont method of the measurement of the phase difference of the birefringence medium, which is effective even if the quarter wave plate with the phase shift different from 90º is used in the measurement setup. And also the modification of the Senarmont compensator is presented in the second part of this paper. It uses standard simple and reverse Senarmont setups, however, the phase retardances of unknown medium as well as the element used as a quarter wave plate in classical setups could be measured.
Keywords – birefringence, phase difference, Senarmont compensator;