A three-intensity technique for polarizer-sample-analyser photometric ellipsometry and polarimetry

Abstract

This work presents a novel three-intensity-measurement technique to determine the ellipsometric parameters psi and Delta in a polarizer-sample-analyser photometric ellipsometer. This technique can be employed to correct the azimuthal misalignment of the analyser with respect to the plane of incidence. By performing two sets of measurements with this technique with the polarizer's azimuth at +45 degrees and -45 degrees, respectively, we can simultaneously determine the azimuthal deviation of the polarizer and further improve the ellipsometric measurements. Applying this technique in the transmission mode allows us to obtain the phase retardation and the optical axis of a waveplate at the same time.