The application of Edser-Butler fringes to the measurement of the spatial optical structure of liquid crystal prisms and the determination of dispersion characteristics and thickness

An application of liquid crystals to astronomical adaptive optics which would produce sharpened images from optical telescopes is proposed. To measure the appropriate optical properties a method is described for determining the dispersion and thickness of a thin film based on a spectroscopic technique using Edser-Butler fringes. The application to birefringent media, in particular liquid crystals, and a method for assessing the fine structure is discussed. Results of measurements of the dispersion of liquid crystal BDH-E44 are given.