title: Strange interference blots in the interferometry of inhomogeneous birefringent objects.
abstract: We show both experimentally and by numerical simulation that in the polarization interferometry of inhomogeneous birefringent objects, besides the usual interference fringes, interference blots may appear. In a light-field circular polariscope, interference blots are dark areas that may expand through a number of interference fringes. In a dark-field circular polariscope, interference blots are bright. In the vicinity of the interference blots interference fringes are deformed and their bifurcation may occur. It is shown that the cause of the interference blots is rotation of the principal birefringence axes.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aben
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Josepson