Patent ID: 6411384
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: G02B,G03F

Abstract:
A method for calculating the birefringence of an optical element or optical element material, comprising at least:converting known piezo-optical constants in a specified three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system for an optical material into piezo-optical constants in an arbitrary three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system; calculating &Dgr;n1 and &Dgr;n2 which respectively are an amount of change in refractive index of the optical material in a first direction along a direction of one coordinate axis of the arbitrary three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system and an amount of change in refractive index of the optical material in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction by using a uniaxial stress that is applied to the optical material along the first direction and said piezo-optical constants in the arbitrary three-dimensional coordinate system; and determining a difference between the amount of change in the refractive index &Dgr;n1 and the amount of change in the refractive index &Dgr;n2 to determine an amount of birefringence as seen from a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.