Demonstration of an optical polarization magnifier with low birefringence

• Main Authors: Lintz, Michel, Guena, Jocelyne, Bouchiat, Marie-Anne, Chauvat, Dominique
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 07-10-2004
• Subjects: Physics - Optics
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.physics/0410044

Review of Scientific Instruments 76 (2005) 043102 In any polarimetric measurement technique, enhancing the laser polarization
change of a laser beam before it reaches the analyzer can help in improving the
sensitivity. This can be performed using an optical component having a large
linear dichroism, the enhancement factor being equal to the square root of the
ratio of the two transmission factors. A pile of parallel plates at Brewster
incidence looks appropriate for realizing such a polarization magnifier. In
this paper, we address the problem raised by the interference in the plates and
between the plates, which affects the measurement by giving rise to
birefringence. We demonstrate that wedged plates provide a convenient and
efficient way to avoid this interference. We have implemented and characterized
devices with 4 and 6 wedged plates at Brewster incidence which have led to a
decisive improvement of the signal to noise ratio in our ongoing Parity
Violation measurement.