We report a new optical scheme that eliminates birefringence effects on the polarization state of a beam which retraces its path. The operation is based on the symmetry properties induced by a Faraday rotator followed by a mirror on the Poincaré sphere rotations. The entrance and exit polarizations states turn out to be always orthogonal points on the Poincaré sphere. Experiments confirm the theory and point out full remotion of any birefringence effect on the final polarization state. At variance with previous methods, the proposed scheme does not control the exit polarization state but it removes the birefringence change effect at its source. Thus, it behaves on the polarization perturbations as a phase-conjugated mirror does on the phase perturbations.
A universal compensator for polarization changes induced by birefringence on a retracing beam
MARTINELLI, MARIO
1989-01-01
Abstract
We report a new optical scheme that eliminates birefringence effects on the polarization state of a beam which retraces its path. The operation is based on the symmetry properties induced by a Faraday rotator followed by a mirror on the Poincaré sphere rotations. The entrance and exit polarizations states turn out to be always orthogonal points on the Poincaré sphere. Experiments confirm the theory and point out full remotion of any birefringence effect on the final polarization state. At variance with previous methods, the proposed scheme does not control the exit polarization state but it removes the birefringence change effect at its source. Thus, it behaves on the polarization perturbations as a phase-conjugated mirror does on the phase perturbations.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
