A Mach-Zehnder 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. The system is based on an interferometric set up, consisting of a splitting system, a phase delay system and a recombination system. By controlling the optical path, it is possible to obtain every polarization status: linear, elliptical and circular. The system can be realized with an all reflective scheme and it can work in a wide spectral band of the electromagnetic spectrum, from the near-infrared down to the extreme ultraviolet. The system can be integrated in different optical setups in order to enhance their versatility, such as in laser devices, optical instrumentations, synchrotron lines or free electron lasers beam transport system. Finally it can be also used to test optical device and for calibration of optical components.