title: Analysis of throughput for multilayer infrared meanderline waveplates.
abstract: A meanderline wave retarder is a unique type of frequency-selective-surface (FSS) that enables a change in the state of optical polarization. The principles of operation are very similar to a typical crystalline waveplate, such that the artificially structured meanderline array has both 'slow' and 'fast' axes that provide a phase offset between two orthogonal wave components. In this paper, we study the behavior and response of multilayered meanderline quarter-wave retarders designed for operation at 10.6 mum wavelength (28.28 THz). It will be shown that meanderline quarter-wave plates with more than a single layer exhibit improved transmission throughput at infrared frequencies due to impedance matching, similar to a multilayer optical film coating. Numerical data, both from simulations and measurements, are presented to validate this claim.
authors.affiliation: University of Central Florida, CREOL - The College of Optics and Photonics, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA. swadswor@creol.ucf.edu
authors.forename: Samuel L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wadsworth
authors.forename: Glenn D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Boreman
mesh_terms: D001718:Birefringence; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004581:Electronics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D011048:Polarography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*