Edge enhancement of phase objects using a cyclic-path polarization interferometer

TLDR: In this paper, a self compensating interferometer was employed with a polarizing beam splitter where two counter propagating orthogonally polarized mutually coherent beams were modulated by the phase shifts introduced by a phase sample.

Abstract: The aim of this study is to model edge enhancement effect in purely phase samples. A self compensating interferometer similar to Sagnac’s, employed with a polarizing beam splitter where two counter propagating orthogonally polarized mutually coherent beams are modulated by the phase shifts introduced by a phase sample. An afocal imaging system is used to image the phase sample on the CCD so that one of the images is slightly defocused. Real-time subtraction of two images results in intensity modulation of phase interfaces.