Optical Compensators for Measurement of Elliptical Polarization

A detailed survey is given of the present-day knowledge of optical compensators. The compensators discussed are those of Babinet, Soleil, Rayleigh, De Forest Palmer, Brace, Szivessy, Senarmont, and Richartz. Each instrument is described, the theory developed, the method of use for the measurement of small phase differences given, and reference made to the sensitivity and accuracy.