Semi-automated Senarmont Method for Measurement of Small Retardation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a semi-automated approach to measure small retardation using the Senarmont method, significantly reducing measurement time by automating intensity measurements with computer-controlled analyzer rotation.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel semi-automated setup that improves measurement efficiency of small retardation in the Senarmont method by integrating computer-controlled analyzer rotation.

Findings

Measurement time decreased significantly.

Enhanced accuracy in detecting minimum intensity.

Automation reduces manual operation effort.

Abstract

In usual measurement with the Senarmont method using a conventional polarization microscope, the azimuth angle of the analyzer at extinction of the emerging light is detected by naked eyes. If the intensity of light is measured as a function of the azimuth angle of the analyzer, one can find the direction at which the intensity is minimized more accurately by fitting. However, this procedure requires much numbers of operations as compared to the usual method, and thus is time-consuming. To circumvent this problem a setting with which the intensity is measured as a function of the azimuth angle of the analyzer is constructed with rotation of the analyzer through a computer control. As a result, the time required for the measurement has been greatly decreased.