Optical Waveplate
Optical Waveplate
A waveplate is made from material which exhibits birefringence and it is an optical device in which the polished faces contain the optical axis. The velocities of the extraordinary and ordinary rays through the birefringent materials vary inversely with their refractive indices. The difference in velocities gives rise to a phase difference when the two beams recombine. At any specific wavelength the phase difference is governed by the thickness of the waveplate.
