High-Resolution, Broad-Range Detection Setup for Polarimetric Optical Fiber Sensors

Featured Application Polarimetric optical fiber sensors, polarization interferometers. A common-path polarization interferometer using a Wollaston prism and an area detector for the measurement of retardation or optical path difference is presented. Employing a moderate-resolution 1280 by 1024 pixel monochrome camera, it offers a measurement range of approximately 780 radians at 830 nm and 1350 radians at 515 nm while maintaining a high measurement resolution. Retardation introduced by a zero-order waveplate or a Soleil-Babinet compensator was measured to evaluate the performance of the interferometer. Based on the presented measurement results, the resolution of the measurement is estimated to be better than 0.002 rad.

Automated summary

This paper presents a method for measuring optical path difference or phase difference using a polarimetric interferometer. The interferometer utilizes a Wollaston prism and an area detector, along with a 1280x1024 pixel camera, providing measurement ranges of approximately 780 radians at 830 nm and 1350 radians at 515 nm with high measurement resolution. The performance of the interferometer was evaluated by measuring the retardation introduced by a zero-order waveplate or a Soleil-Babinet compensator, and the resolution was estimated to be better than 0.002 rad.