Discrete algorithms for symbolic computing of topological phases and observables in interferometric systems

Discrete algorithms for symbolic computation of topological phases and observables in optical interferometric systems are presented and illustrated using a set of test models. The calculation of the parameters of a birefringent plate that can be measured by means of Mach-Zehnder interferometer is implemented in terms of Maple and Mathematica. Near-field test models of the systems, that possess both geometrical and dynamical phases in the far-field region, are constructed beyond the the bounds of the ray approximation. These models imply a set of discrete sources with variable parameters and make use of the appropriate set of separable potentials.