• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2022

A free-form Mueller matrix ellipsometer (MME) based on independent control of the azimuthal angle of each polarizing element is introduced. The azimuthal angles of the polarizer and the matching compensator which generate the optimum Stokes vectors of an incident beam are investigated for the polarization state generator, where the spectral responses of the retardation angle and transmittance ratio of a nonideal compensator are taken into account. Similarly, the azimuthal angles of the analyzer and the corresponding compensator are investigated for the polarization-state detector, to unambiguously determine the Stokes vector of the outcoming beam from the sample, and explicit expressions for the Stokes elements are derived. Since the suggested technique enables one to utilize a nonideal quarter-wave plate as the compensator for an MME, it will contribute to the construction and application of a Mueller matrix spectroscopic ellipsometer (MMSE) operating over a wide spectral range from deep ultra-violet to near infrared.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.262-272
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• 2014

Using an ellipsometer with dual rotating quarter-wave plates, we have analyzed the relationship between Fourier coefficients and Mueller matrices in the cases of an error-free optical system and of five systematic errors (alignment errors and retardation errors in the quarter-wave plates, and alignment error in the analyzer). In the case with five systematic errors, simulation results show that retardation errors cause more error in the diagonal elements of the Mueller matrix than do alignment errors. We have found that errors in the Mueller matrix caused by initial misalignment of the dual quarter-wave plates were the same. We have chosen the rotation rates of two quarter-wave plates such that the rotational frequencies ${\omega}_1$ and ${\omega}_2$ differ by a factor of 5, i.e. ${\omega}_2=5{\omega}_1$. The simulation results show 0.18% relative error in the diagonal elements ($m_{22}$ and $m_{33}$) and 200% relative error in the off-diagonal elements ($m_{23}$ and $m_{32}$), when we compare errors caused by misalignment of the analyzer to those caused by initial misalignment of the quarter-wave plates. We can use these results in measuring accurate Mueller matrices of optical materials.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.428-434
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• 2023

The compensators used in spectroscopic ellipsometers are usually assumed to be ideal linear waveplates. In reality, however, they are elliptical waveplates, because they are usually made by bonding two or more linear waveplates of different materials with slight misalignment. This induces systematic error when they are modeled as linear waveplates. We propose an improved calibration method based on an optical model that regards an elliptical waveplate as a combination of a circular waveplate (rotator) and a linear waveplate. The method allows elimination of the systematic error, and the residual error of optic axis measurement is reduced to 0.025 degrees in the spectral range of 450-800 nm.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2014

We have studied and demonstrated general, systematic error-correction methods for a dual rotating quarter-wave plate ellipsometer. To estimate and correct 5 systematic error sources (three offset angles and two unexpected retarder phase delays), we used 11 of the 25 Fourier components of the ellipsometry signal obtained in the absence of an optical sample. Using these 11 Fourier components, we can determine the errors from the 5 sources with nonlinear optimization methods. We found systematic errors ${\epsilon}_3$, ${\epsilon}_4$, ${\epsilon}_5$) are more sensitive to the inverted Mueller matrix than retarder phase delay errors (${\epsilon}_1$, ${\epsilon}_2$) because of their small condition numbers. To correct these systematic errors we have found that error of any variety must be less than 0.05 rad. Finally, we can use the magnitudes of these errors to correct the Mueller matrix of optical components. From our experimental ellipsometry signals, we can measure phase delay and the rotational angular position of its fast axis for a half-wave plate.