But I don't know indices of refractive. Actually absolute phase difference is not specified. I know relative phase difference which is equal to Pi/2 only.PietKuip said:You can test with other wavelengths, assuming that its indices of refraction (and their difference) does not have too much dispersion.
A quarter wave plate is a type of optical component that is designed to alter the polarization state of light passing through it. It is made up of a birefringent material with a thickness of one quarter of the wavelength of the light it is designed to manipulate.
The main difference between zero and multiple quarter wave plates is the number of times the light passes through the birefringent material. Zero quarter wave plates do not have any birefringent material and therefore do not alter the polarization state of light passing through them. Multiple quarter wave plates, on the other hand, have multiple layers of birefringent material and can alter the polarization state of light multiple times.
A quarter wave plate alters the polarization state of light by introducing a phase difference between the two components of linearly polarized light. This phase difference is one quarter of the wavelength of the light, causing the light to be polarized at a different angle.
Quarter wave plates are commonly used in optical systems to manipulate the polarization state of light. They can be used to convert linearly polarized light into circularly polarized light or vice versa. They are also used to compensate for birefringence in optical components and systems.
While quarter wave plates are useful in manipulating the polarization state of light, they do have some limitations. They are only effective for a specific wavelength of light and may not work well for a broad range of wavelengths. Additionally, they can introduce unwanted optical effects such as double refraction and depolarization.