title: Novel achromatic single reflection quarter-wave retarder: design and measurement.
abstract: In this work, we present an achromatic quarter-wave retarder whose design is based upon the reflection properties of an isotropic-anisotropic interface. In theory, it is possible to obtain a π/2 phase shift by means of a total internal reflection at an isotropic-isotropic interface. However, in order to achieve such a phase shift, it is necessary to use a medium with a particularly high refractive index. We have previously shown that these phase shifts can be achieved by means of a total internal reflection in an isotropic-uniaxial interface, which allows the use of smaller refractive index media. By means of this property, we designed, built, and characterized a novel quarter-wave retarder that makes it possible to obtain circularly polarized light from a linear polarization state. We developed some guidelines that allowed us to obtain a device of competitive performance, low cost, and manageable manufacture.
authors.affiliation: GLOmAe, Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Paseo Colón 850, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1063ACV, Argentina.
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Veiras
authors.affiliation: GLOmAe, Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Paseo Colón 850, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1063ACV, Argentina.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raffa
authors.affiliation: GLOmAe, Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Paseo Colón 850, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1063ACV, Argentina.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caré
authors.affiliation: GLOmAe, Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Paseo Colón 850, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1063ACV, Argentina.
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: GLOmAe, Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Paseo Colón 850, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1063ACV, Argentina.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Garea