title: Linear-to-circular polarization transformation upon optical tunneling through an embedded low-index film.
abstract: Quarter-wave retardation can be achieved in optical tunneling through a low-index thin film that is surrounded by a medium of higher refractive index, for any index ratio N>2.414, over a range of incidence angles that is determined by N. A novel frustrated-total-internal-reflection circular polarization beam splitter (CPBS) is proposed that uses an adjustable air gap between two Ge prisms. This tunable CPBS operates over a broad (2-12 microm) IR spectral range by controlling the air-gap thickness to match one-tenth of the wavelength of light by use of a piezoelectric transducer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of New Orleans, Louisiana 70148, USA. rasheed.azzam@gmail.com
authors.forename: R M A
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Azzam
authors.forename: Cristina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Spinu