Abstract
The Jones Matrix is very useful for birefringent filter design. The magnitudes of the ordinary ray and the extraordinary ray and the phase difference between them are represented in the four elements of the Jones Matrix. Any approximation neglecting the birefringence in the phase difference calculation is incorrect, and we have corrected two common errors that appeared in previous publications. The Jones Matrix of a single birefringent plate is rigorously determined; previous published results are inaccurate. We work in the PS polarization system (polarization parallel and perpendicular to the plane of incidence), and the boundary conditions of refraction are satisfied when we apply Fresnel's equations. The theory for the Jones Matrix is in agreement with our experimental data. Other experimental results for a birefringent filter are also presented.
Wan, Xiaoke (1999). The Jones Matrix of a birefringent plate. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1999 -THESIS -W155.