Achromatic phase retarder applied to MWIR & LWIR dual-band

Abstract

The development of the dual-band IR imaging polarimetry creates the need for achromatic phase retarder used in dual-band. Dielectric grating with the period smaller than the illuminating wavelength presents a strong form-birefringence. With this feature, the combination of several subwavelength gratings can be used as achromatic phase retarders. We proposed a combination of 4 subwavelength structured gratings (SWGs) used as an achromatic quarter-wave plate (QWP) applied to MWIR & LWIR bandwidths. Design method using effective medium theory and optimization algorithms is described in detail. The simulation results led to the possibility of an dual-band achromatic QWP whose retardance deviates from 90 degrees by <+/-0.75 degrees with the fast axis unfixed and by <+/-1.35 degrees with the fast axis fixed over MWIR(3-5microm) & LWIR(8-12microm) bandwiths.