Summary Accurate azimuthal alignment of polarization optics, such as polarizers and retarders, is crucial for many polarized light applications. This document introduces a simple opto-mechanical tool designed for precise alignment using two rotatable mounts—one holding a polarizer and the other a half-wave retarder. The method of swings, illustrated with the
Summary This document provides an in-depth overview of linear polarization, the types of linear polarizers, and the key specifications for selecting the ideal polarizer for various applications. It details dichroic polymer, dichroic glass, wire grid, beamsplitting, and crystalline polarizers, emphasizing their transmission, contrast ratio, and other critical factors such as
Summary This paper discusses the challenges and methods for measuring high extinction ratio polarizers (exceeding 10^6), particularly in systems where precise measurement is crucial. The extinction ratio of a polarizer is significantly influenced by test system geometry, which complicates accurate assessments for high-performance polarizers. The authors present techniques for measuring
Summary Traditional beam-splitting polarizer cubes rely on MacNeille coatings, but a new approach using wire grid structures on the cube hypotenuse offers enhanced polarization purity across a broader range of wavelengths and angles. Modern lithography techniques now enable the creation of ultrafine wire grids, ensuring high-performance polarization control at both
Summary New optical technologies are revolutionizing astronomical polarimetry by expanding the range of polarization optics for telescopes and scientific imaging. Liquid crystal retarders, including nematic liquid crystals and ferroelectric liquid crystals, offer electrical control of polarization with low voltage and fast response times, making them ideal for adaptive optics and
Summary This application note provides an overview of light polarization, retardation, and key optical components used to manipulate polarization states. It explains how optical isolators, light attenuators, polarization rotators, and variable beam splitters function by using combinations of polarizers and retarders. Quarter wave and half wave retarders play crucial roles
Meadowlark Optics DOWNLOAD PRINCIPLES Dichroic Polarizers Meadowlark Optics offers an extensive line of dichroic polarizers made from both polymer and treated glass materials. Dichroic refers to the selective polarization absorption of the anisotropic polarizing material (Diattenuation). These polarizers are usually constructed by laminating a thin, stretched and dyed polymer film
Geometric-phase microscopy (GPM) uses changes in the phase of light passing through biological specimens to yield high-resolution and high-contrast images, instead of relying on the attenuation of light used conventionally. Polarization optics and a spatial light modulator generate spatially variant polarization states of light that interact with the sample, creating
Meadowlark Optics The National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST), located on the island of Maui, Hawaii, stands as the largest solar telescope globally. It’s dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of the Sun’s explosive phenomena, with a primary focus on observing magnetic fields. Recently Meadowlark built an optic
Meadowlark Optics “The Bose-Einstein Condensate” is a groundbreaking achievement in the field of physics, for which Eric A. Cornell, Carl E. Wieman, and Wolfgang Ketterle were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2001. It marks a significant milestone in our understanding of quantum mechanics and the behavior of matter
