HWP-synchronous signal induced by misalignment of the sapphire crystal axis

Abstract

We investigate the optical response of a rotating sapphire half-wave plate (HWP) with optic axis misalignment, defined as a deviation of the optic axis from the ideal a-cut orientation. We extend the transfer-matrix formalism for calculating the modulated transmittance of multi-layer wave plates with optic axis misalignment and oblique incidence. Using this formalism, we compute the modulated response of a rotating HWP with an optic axis misalignment to linearly polarized incident light. We experimentally validate the model at 90 GHz using sapphire wave plates with intentionally introduced optic axis misalignments of up to 30 degrees. Additional even harmonics are observed for oblique incidence and optic axis misalignment, with odd harmonics appearing when both effects are present. The measured modulation signals are in good agreement with the model predictions. We also evaluate the potential impact of a illustrative small optic axis misalignment of 3 degrees on precision polarimetry. For the configuration considered, the model predicts odd-harmonic amplitudes at the percent level for a single-layer HWP and up to 8% at individual frequencies for a five-layer achromatic HWP.