Measurement method for optical retardation based on the phase difference effect of laser feedback fringes

We present a measurement method for optical phase retardation, which utilizes a phase-difference phenomenon of the feedback fringes in orthogonally polarized directions of a laser with anisotropic weak feedback. This phase difference is dominated by the measured retardation. The measurement principles are given based on the 3-mirror cavity model, and experiments are conducted with quartz waveplates (WPs). A measurement range 0°-180° is achieved, the uncertainty is theoretically better than 0.5°, and the measurement precision can be improved further. This method does not require researchers to know beforehand the principal axes directions of the WPs, and has better anti-disturbance ability than the previous method based on laser feedback.