Yc. Zhu et al., Two-dimensional measurement technique for birefringence vector distributions: data processing and experimental verification, APPL OPTICS, 38(11), 1999, pp. 2216-2224
A two-dimensional measurement method for a birefringence vector distributio
n differs from a point-measurement method not only in the two-dimensional s
ystem nonuniformity but also in the system reliability. The previously prop
osed intrinsic vector allowed for the elimination of the influence of the s
ystem nonuniformity, whereas the two-dimensional system reliability is ensu
red by both an online diagnosis technique and an image lock-in processing.
It is revealed that the measured intrinsic vector is relevant not only with
the birefringence vector distribution in a sample but also with the natura
l birefringence vector distributions that exist in the optic components. Th
e complete solution from the measured intrinsic vector results in a bidirec
tional vector for the desired birefringence vector distribution. The correc
tness of the two-dimensional measurement principle is examined by means of
a comparison of the measured data with that calculated from a finite-elemen
t analysis based on the photoelastic effect. (C) 1999 Optical Society of Am
erica.