A quarter wave plate has a phase retardation of Γ= π/2.Assume that the plate is oriented in a direction with azimuth angle ψ.
(a) Find the polarization state of the transmitted beam, assumingthat the incident beam is linearly polarized in the y-direcion.
(b) If the polarization state resulting from (a) is represented bya complex number on the complex plane, show that the locus of these points as ψ variesfrom 0 to π/2 is a branch of hyperbola. Obtain the equation of the hyperbola.
(c) ZLI-1646 is a nematic liquid crystal with no= 1.478 andne=1.558 at λ=589 nm. Find the thickness of the a-plate at this wavelength.