Properties of an adjustable quarter-wave system under condition of multiple beam interference

Abstract

The polarimetric properties of an adjustable two plate quarter-wave system have been investigated. Multiple beam interference within single wave-plates has been taken into account. It has been shown that different adjustments are needed to produce left-handed and right-handed circular polarized coherent light. Laser light polarization conversion by the systems consisting of two birefringent mica plates has been investigated experimentally. The high-quality circularly polarized light with the intensity-related ellipticity higher than 0.99 has been produced.