Demonstration of a single-layer meanderline phase retarder at infrared

Meanderline wave plates are in common use at radio frequencies as polarization retarders. We present initial results of a gold meanderline structure on a silicon substrate that functions at a wavelength of 10.6 mu m in the IR. The measured results show a distinct change in the polarization state of the incident beam after passing through the device, inducing a 74 degrees phase retardance between horizontal and vertical components. A high degree of polarization (88%) is maintained in the transmitted beam with an overall power transmittance of 38% and a beam profile that remains essentially unchanged. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.