Polarization properties and fractional-power analysis of coated and uncoated parallel-slab multireflection beam splitters

Abstract

The polarization properties of coated and uncoated parallel-slab multireflection beam splitters are investigated. In a recent study [Opt. Lett. 21, 1709 (1996)] it was shown that the parallel-slab beam splitter is a basic optical component of the parallel-slab division-of-amplitude photopolarimeter. The ellipsometric parameters and the fractional powers for multireflected components generated by this system are analyzed. Interesting new observations with respect to the polarization properties at the Brewster angle of incidence and the distribution of powers among the multireflected components are presented.