title: Polarization-based tunable interferometric filter.
abstract: A polarization-based tunable interferometric filter essentially consisting of a two-beam interferometer with birefringence elements is described. The analysis of the filter is done through the concept of a geometric phase in optics-namely, the Pancharatnam phase. The transmission characteristics of the filter can be controlled through three parameters: the thickness of the birefringent elements, the optical path difference, and the orientation angle of an analyzer placed at the interferometer output. It is demonstrated theoretically that, with a particular choice of these parameters, the chromatic dispersion of the filter is compensated in a given spectral range. Some properties of the device are confirmed by an experimental demonstration.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Frins
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dultz