Optical Interferometer For The Fine Control Of The Polarization Status Of A Beam

An optical system for the generation of a beam with a variable and controllable polarization status has been designed, realized and tested. By controlling the optical path, it is possible to obtain every polarization status: linear, elliptical and circular. The system can be all reflective, therefore working in a wide spectral band of the electromagnetic spectrum, from the near-infrared down to the extreme ultraviolet, where the use of transmission optical elements is forbidden.