Polarization eigenmodes of a QHQ retarder — some new features

Abstract

A detailed analysis of the polarization eigenmodes of a QHQ retarder (a half-wave plate sandwiched between two identical quarter-wave plates) is presented. These are shown to be discontinuous as a function of the orientation of the half-wave plate, as a function of the wavelength of incident light and as a function of the retardation of the middle waveplate.