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Total internal reflection without change of polarization using a right-angle prism with half-wavelength-thick optical
1Department of Electrical Engineering, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA. razzam@uno.edu
Optics Letters
|February 3, 2009
Summary
Polarized light maintains its polarization state after total internal reflection from a coated prism. Minor changes in wavelength or incidence angle cause only slight phase errors, preserving polarization integrity.
Area of Science:
- Optics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Total internal reflection (TIR) is crucial in optical systems.
- Maintaining polarization state during TIR is essential for various applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate polarization-preserving TIR using a coated right-angle prism.
- To analyze the impact of thin film coatings and incidence variations on polarization.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a right-angle prism with specific refractive index (n0=1.70711).
- Applied a transparent thin film coating (n1=1.30656) with thickness d=lambda/2.
- Analyzed light polarization under TIR at 45 degrees incidence.
Main Results:
- Achieved polarization-preserving TIR for monochromatic light in arbitrary polarization states.
- Demonstrated minimal polarization change even with wavelength shifts (+/-50 nm) or incidence angle variations (+/-1 degree).
- Observed only a few degrees of phase error under perturbed conditions.
Conclusions:
- The designed optical system effectively preserves light polarization during TIR.
- The system exhibits robustness against minor environmental and incidence parameter fluctuations.
- This method offers a stable solution for polarization control in optical devices.
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