Optical retardation refers to the phase difference introduced between two orthogonal components of polarized light as it passes through an anisotropic material. This phenomenon is crucial in understanding the behavior of light in birefringent materials, leading to applications in optical devices and stress analysis in transparent materials.
Phase difference refers to the angular displacement between the peaks, troughs, or zero crossings of two periodic signals or waves, often measured in degrees or radians. It is crucial in various fields such as physics, engineering, and signal processing, as it affects interference patterns, wave superposition, and signal synchronization.
A waveplate is an optical device that alters the polarization state of light traveling through it by introducing a phase shift between its orthogonal components. It is commonly used in various optical systems to control polarization, enhance image contrast, and in laser applications for beam shaping.