Polarization-maintaining fiber-based optical low-coherence reflectometer for characterization and ranging of birefringence.
We describe a polarization-maintaining fiber-based polarization-sensitive optical low-coherence reflectometer for measurement of depth-resolved birefringence. Unlike for other fiber-based polarization-sensitive optical low-coherence reflectometers, here the linear birefringence of a sample can be measured from data recorded in a single A scan. Simultaneous measurement of retardation and orientation of birefringent axes with mica wave plates is demonstrated. The measured retardation is insensitive to sample rotation in the plane perpendicular to ranging.
D001718:Birefringence; D008027:Light; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012542:Scattering, Radiation