title: Three-dimensional polarization ray-tracing calculus II: retardance.
abstract: The concept of retardance is critically analyzed for ray paths through optical systems described by a three-by-three polarization ray-tracing matrix. Algorithms are presented to separate the effects of retardance from geometric transformations. The geometric transformation described by a "parallel transport matrix" characterizes nonpolarizing propagation through an optical system, and also provides a proper relationship between sets of local coordinates along the ray path. The proper retardance is calculated by removing this geometric transformation from the three-by-three polarization ray-tracing matrix. Two rays with different ray paths through an optical system can have the same polarization ray-tracing matrix but different retardances. The retardance and diattenuation of an aluminum-coated three fold-mirror system are analyzed as an example.
authors.affiliation: College of Optical Sciences, The University of Arizona, 1630 East University Boulevard, Tucson, Arizona 85721-0094, USA. gyun@optics.arizona.edu
authors.forename: Garam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: McClain
authors.forename: Russell A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Chipman