High performance Feussner-type polarizers based on stretched poly(ethylene-terephthalate) films

Stretched poly(ethylene-terephthalate) films appear to be an interesting optical plastic for use in polarization control devices. By means of stretching ratios its birefringence, in practice, can be tailored from similar to0 to similar to0.17. It has a very wide transmission window (similar to0.32-5.70 mum) and good thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties. We propose using it for polarizers based on the Feussner design. By implementing this configuration with a biaxially stretched film, we have obtained a polarizer with an achromatic extinction ratio better than 1 part in 50 000. This is comparable with conventional Glan-Thompson polarizers but with additional advantages. The principal refractive indices of the film (in the 0.43-5.7 mum range) and the operational range of the polarizer presented are also provided. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.