Abstract

An experimental method for investigation of the anisotropy of transparent objects has been developed. To avoid birefringence during reflection, the polarization of the probing light is chosen according to Brewster’s conditions, and the polarization is modulated behind the studied object. The method was sampled by study of the stress-induced birefringence of the total internal reflection prisms (TIRP’s) of laser gyroscopes caused by the interaction of the prisms with different foundations. Essential nonmonotonic space dependence of TIRP birefringence has been observed. For the grounding of the method and for analysis and interpretation of the obtained results, a theoretical investigation of stress-induced birefringence of TIRP’s was done. Good qualitative agreement with experimental results provides support for the efficiency of the devised method.

© 1995 Optical Society of America

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