Patent ID: 7821637

Claim:
A method of investigating materials demonstrating depolarization using electromagnetic beams, comprising a procedure which comprises steps a, b and c, said steps a, b and c being: a) providing a system comprising: a source of electromagnetic radiation; a polarizer; a variable focusing means; a depolarizing material sample; an analyzer; a detector of electromagnetic radiation; arranged such that said source of electromagnetic radiation provides a beam of electromagnetic radiation which is directed to pass through said polarizer, said variable focusing means and impinge on said depolarizing sample at an angle of incidence thereto, partially reflect from said depolarizing material sample, pass through said analyzer and enter said detector of electromagnetic radiation such that said detector develops an output signal; b) while monitoring said output signal from said detector and determining depolarization of the beam entering thereinto therefrom from: % DEP= 1−√{square root over (N 2 +C 2 +S 2 )} where: N=Cos(2ψ); C=Sin(2ψ) cos(Δ); and S=Sin(2ψ) Sin(Δ); varying the angle of incidence and degree of focusing provided by said variable focusing means, to determine a combination thereof which substantially minimizes depolarization associated with an output signal; c) with the system configured as determined in steps a and b, obtaining data from the detector; said method further comprising steps d and e, said steps d and e being: d) practicing steps a and b to the end that the detector signal output represents an acceptable range of beam depolarization less than 35%, and e) obtaining data from said detector by practice of step c; said method being characterized by at least one selection from the group consisting of: at least some obtained data is stored in machine readable media; at least some obtained data is displayed electronically or by non-electronic means; at least some obtained data is caused to be represented by a signal which is applied to provide a concrete and tangible result.