title: Two-wave-plate compensator method for full-field retardation measurements.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 777 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0250, USA.
authors.forename: Carole C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Montarou
authors.forename: Thomas K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Gaylord
authors.forename: Brent L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Bachim
authors.forename: Alexei I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Dachevski
authors.forename: Abhiruchi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarwal