Abstract

In a study of the Sénarmont compensator method of flow birefringence measurement, the effects of polychromatism and of error in the quarter-wave plate are investigated by a theoretical treatment of the behavior of the cross of isocline. It is found that with monochromatic light an error in the quarter-wave plate introduces asymmetry into the scissors-type motion of the cross of isocline. The arms of the cross do not close completely. Rather, one arm disappears while the other continues its motion toward the 45° position in the annulus. It is shown by example that, with the proper quarter-wave plate, polychromatic light from a filter can give a result which is almost the same as that given by monochromatic light and a quarter-wave plate without error. A mismatch of the quarter-wave plate and polychromatic light gives essentially the same error in the measurement of birefringence as the error caused by a comparable mismatch between the quarter-wave plate and monochromatic light.

© 1964 Optical Society of America

Errors of Measurement of Flow Birefringence by the Sénarmont Method*

C. A. Hollingsworth
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 58(12) 1581-1585 (1968)

Theory of Measurement of Flow Birefringence by Use of the Sénarmont Compensator

C. A. Hollingsworth and W. T. Granquist
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 52(5) 562-564 (1962)

Theory of Measurement of Flow Birefringence by use of the Sénarmont Compensator. III. Concerning the Interpretation of Results when the Reference Wavelength is Uncertain*

C. A. Hollingsworth and W. T. Granquist
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 55(12) 1617-1618 (1965)

Theory of Measurement of Flow Birefringence by use of the Sénarmont Compensator. IV. Use of White Light and Blue-to-Purplish-Blue End Point*

C. A. Hollingsworth and W. T. Granquist
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 55(12) 1619-1622 (1965)

Use of the Sénarmont Compensator for Measuring Double Refraction of Flow*

Alexander Rich
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 45(5) 393-395 (1955)