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Carole C Montarou

Publications and source records attributed to Carole C Montarou.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Two-wave-plate compensator method for full-field retardation measurements.

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 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 microm and a retardation resolution of 0.07 nm. The full-field TWC method can thus be a useful tool for characterizing and monitoring the fabrication of optical devices.

Journal Article↗

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

The two-wave-plate compensator (TWC) technique is introduced for single-point retardation measurements. The TWC method uses a known wave plate together with a wave plate of unknown retardation and produces a linearly polarized output that allows a null of intensity to be detected. The TWC method is compared both theoretically and experimentally with the existing Brace-Köhler and Sénarmont methods. The resolution of the TWC is shown to be 0.02 nm. TWC enables the measurement of a sample retardation with as little as 0.13% error and thus is more accurate than either the Brace-Kohler or the Sénarmont method.

Journal Article↗

Colorimetry-based retardation measurement method with white-light interference.

A colorimetry-based retardation measurement (CBRM) method is presented. The specimen, between crossed polarizers, is illuminated with a white-light source. The retardation that is due to the birefringence of the specimen produces a white-light interference color. The x, y chromaticity coordinates of the color produced are measured with a spectrophotometer. The resulting x, y values are compared with a retardation x, y database that we obtained by measuring the retardation with an accurate Senarmont compensator and the x, y chromaticity values along the length of a 0-4-order quartz wedge. The technique was validated by the measurement of a variety of retardation plates. The retardation accuracy (mean error) of the CBRM method is shown to be 3.6 nm. The resolution is +/-0.2 nm, and the measurement range is 5-2150 nm. The method substitutes for a polariscope and eliminates errors associated with quarter-wave plates. The CBRM method does not utilize any moving parts and thus is fast and can be automated.

Journal Article↗