GAUSSIAN-BEAM SPLITTING BY A CHIRAL PRISM

Splitting of a linearly polarized electromagnetic Gaussian beam into t wo opposite circularly polarized Gaussian beams by a chiral prism is i nvestigated. The prism is made of homogeneous chiral material and has an isosceles triangle base with angles (alpha, alpha, pi - 2 alpha). I t is shown that by proper choice of chirality in relation to alpha, th e splitted beams can be made to emerge from different faces of the pri sm with small crosspolarization ratio.