An application for optical measurements using a rotating linearly polarized light source

The apparatus of a linearly polarized light source that rotates at arbitrary high frequencies was constructed using an acoustooptic tunable filter employing a TeO₂ crystal. The characteristics of optical devices, such as birefringence of optical fiber, transmissivity of half mirror, angle of rotation of optical isolator, and film thickness and refractive index of optical thin-film, were measured using this apparatus. The advantages of this apparatus are its simple construction, ability to produce high rotating frequencies, and ability to use various laser beams.