Using Jones matrix calculus the main features of the polarization optics of uniaxial absorbing crystals exhibiting linear birefringence, optical activity, and linear dichroism are discussed. Polarization of the eigenwaves that propagate in the crystal unchanged, as well as the azimuth and the ellipticity of the emergent light waves, is analyzed. The crystal optical effects occurring at the isotropic point of uniaxial absorbing crystals are studied in detail. Despite that the dichroism of the eigenwaves is absent and the crystal can be treated as a phase retardation plate, it manifests the absorption dependent on the incident light polarization. It is revealed that singular directions can exist in optically active linearly dichroic uniaxial crystals in which only one, but not two, eigenwave propagates. The propagation along the axial direction of the light wave polarized orthogonally to the eigenwave is considered.

Date Published: 3 November 1995
PDF: 11 pages
Proc. SPIE 2648, International Conference on Optical Diagnostics of Materials and Devices for Opto-, Micro-, and Quantum Electronics, (3 November 1995); doi: 10.1117/12.226230

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2648:
International Conference on Optical Diagnostics of Materials and Devices for Opto-, Micro-, and Quantum Electronics
Sergey V. Svechnikov; Mikhail Ya. Valakh, Editor(s)