Abstract

The two-wave-plate compensator (TWC) method is expanded for full-field retardation measurements by use of a polarization microscope. The sample image is projected onto a CCD camera connected to a computer, allowing the retardation to be measured at all pixels. The retardation accuracy of this implementation of the TWC is evaluated to be $0.06\mathrm{nm}$. The method is applied to polarization-maintaining fibers and long-period fiber gratings. The measured retardation is in good agreement with the crossed-polarizer images of the fibers. The method achieves a spatial resolution of $0.45\mathrm{\mu m}$ and a retardation resolution of $0.07\mathrm{nm}$. The full-field TWC method can thus be a useful tool for characterizing and monitoring the fabrication of optical devices.

© 2006 Optical Society of America

Two-wave-plate compensator method for single-point retardation measurements

Carole C. Montarou and Thomas K. Gaylord
Appl. Opt. 43(36) 6580-6595 (2004)

Accurate cross-sectional stress profiling of optical fibers

Michael R. Hutsel, Reeve Ingle, and Thomas K. Gaylord
Appl. Opt. 48(26) 4985-4995 (2009)

Colorimetry-based retardation measurement method with white-light interference

Carole C. Montarou, Thomas K. Gaylord, Ricardo A. Villalaz, and Elias N. Glytsis
Appl. Opt. 41(25) 5290-5297 (2002)

Simple technique for the measurement of two-dimensional linear retardation distributions of wave plates with a phase-shifting Nomarski prism

Sanjib Chatterjee and Y. Pavan Kumar
Appl. Opt. 47(7) 874-882 (2008)

Full-field heterodyne polariscope with an image signal processing method for principal axis and phase retardation measurements

Yu-Lung Lo, Hung-Wei Chih, Cheng-Yen Yeh, and Tsung-Chih Yu
Appl. Opt. 45(31) 8006-8012 (2006)