Polarization Elements in QUADOA® Optical CAD
Polarization elements in QUADOA® Optical CAD, such as wave plates, polarizers or general Jones matrices, can be added to any surface, and several of them to the same surface. The Surface Action of each element decides whether it acts on transmitted rays, reflected rays or both, and a User Sequence can select a specific element for its path. The example model “Polarization Order” is in the examples folder.
Key points
- Add an element with a right-click on the surface → New Polarization, or in the Coating tab.
- Surface Action: Transmission, Reflection or All.
- A surface can carry several polarization elements; one is applied per ray–surface interaction.
- In a User Sequence, the Jones Matrix column of the surface list selects the element for that sequence.
- Without rotation, the fast axis of an element lies along the local surface x axis; Rz rotates it.
Terms used in this article
- Surface Action
- Defines whether a polarization element acts on transmission, reflection or all interactions.
- Jones matrix
- A 2×2 complex matrix describing how an element changes fully polarized light.
- Fast axis
- The axis of a retarder with the lower refractive index; light polarized along it is delayed least.
Example: one surface, two wave plates
In the “Polarization Order” model, surface 1 carries two elements:
| Element | Surface Action | Effect on horizontally polarized light |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter-wave plate | Transmission | Transmitted light (red) becomes circularly polarized |
| Half-wave plate | Reflection | Reflected light (blue) becomes vertically polarized |
So the same surface acts as a quarter-wave plate for every transmission and as a half-wave plate for every reflection.
How to add a polarization element
- Right-click the surface in the Optical Design Editor and choose New Polarization, or select the surface and use the Polarization group of the Coating tab.
- Choose the element, for example General Jones Matrix, and enter its parameters, for example the matrix of a polarization filter.
- Set its Surface Action, its Coo. Reference (coordinate reference) and, if needed, the rotation Rz.
How to apply an element only in one sequence
- Open the User Sequence in the System Setup Editor and expand its Surface List.
- At the surface, choose the element in the Jones Matrix drop-down. Elements are numbered in the order they appear on the surface; in the video, element 3 is the new Jones matrix.
An element selected explicitly in the surface list is always applied for that interaction; its own Surface Action setting is then ignored. With the Surface Action set to “Auto” in the list, the elements’ Surface Action settings decide.
Which polarization elements are available?
- Static: linear polarizer (transmissions Tx and Ty, for real losses and finite extinction), circular polarizer (left or right), quarter-wave plate, half-wave plate, general retarder (retardation in waves), general Jones matrix.
- Interpolated retarders: retardance depending on wavelength, incident angle, pupil position, or combinations.
- Müller matrix element: a general 4×4 matrix; used only with Stokes sources. With a Stokes source, Jones elements are converted to Müller matrices automatically.
Without a coating or polarization element, reflection and transmission at a surface follow the Fresnel equations. For tilted rays, the choice of coordinate reference matters; see polarization capabilities.
Video tutorial: polarization elements
This 3-minute video adds wave plates for transmission and reflection and a Jones matrix for one sequence.
Video length: 3:10 min · Also on YouTube: Polarization Elements in QUADOA® Optical CAD: Wave Plates, Polarizers and Jones Matrices
Frequently asked questions
Right-click the surface in the Optical Design Editor, choose New Polarization and select the wave plate, or use the Polarization group of the Coating tab.
Yes. Add two polarization elements and set the Surface Action of one to Transmission and of the other to Reflection.
In the surface list of the User Sequence, select the element in the Jones Matrix column of that surface.
Without rotation, along the local x axis of the surface. The parameter Rz rotates the element around the surface z axis.