Rotating elliptic analysers for the automatic analysis of polarised light- Part I

Abstract

An elliptic analyser, consisting of a birefringent element and a linear element, can be converted into a rotating elliptic analyser by rotating one or both the elements. The Poincaré sphere could be scanned, with such a device, along a meridian, a latitude circle, a great circle of any arbitrary inclination to the equator or any oblique path. Continuous analysis of polarised light can be accomplished by using such an analyser. The principles of some of the possible methods of analysis are presented. The problem of analysis of partially polarised light is also briefly discussed. The speed of analysis is important in analysing changing states of polarisation and depends on the speed of rotation of the elliptic analyser. It is pointed out here that fast rates of scanning are possible by using an electro-optic cell as a birefringent element and rotating the field that causes birefringence.