Single reflection quarter-wave device design

Abstract

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If a monochromatic linearly polarized plane wave is incident on an isotropic-uniaxial or isotropic-biaxial interface and if the incidence plane coincides with a crystal principal plane then circularly polarized light can be obtained by means of a single reflection. This result can be achieved using materials of refractive indices which are not as high as those required in isotropic devices. As is well known, in isotropic-anisotropic interfaces, there are two different incidence angles that yield circularly polarized reflected light. These angles depend on characteristics of both media (refractive indices and angle between the optical axis and the interface) and also on wavelength. In this paper a single reflection retarder is designed. Additionally, its efficiency as quarter wave retarder for non collimated or polychromatic beams is analyzed studying how the amplitudes and phases of both orthogonal components of the reflected electric field vary when the incidence angle and/or the wavelength varies.