In the few exceptional cases of total internal reflection phase retard
ers that are weakly sensitive to variations in the input angle of inci
dence i, the devices are of increasingly larger size; deviate or trans
late the emergent beam; are difficult to align in optical systems; or,
in coated rhombs, have an impermanent stability of the retardance. Ba
sed on new compensating effects, novel devices of high retardance stab
ility and advantageous characteristics are presented. One device is st
able to within 0.09 degrees of 90 degrees for i +/- 3 degrees. It is a
two-reflection quarter-wave retarder that does not alter the path of
the compact size light beam, is of compact size (one seventh the size
occupied by the achromatic device AD-1 for equal aperture lengths), an
d can be easily aligned in optical systems or used as a rotating eleme
nt. The path length of the beam inside the device is less than one thi
rd the corresponding length inside the achromatic device AD-1. (C) 199
8 Optical Society of America.