Improvement in birefringent filters. 4: The alternate partial polarizer filter.

A design for a birefringent filter is proposed in which alternate polarizers are partial polarizers. Calculated performance characteristics of alternate partial polarizer filters (APP) are compared with those of Lyot and contrast element Lyot filters. These calculations show that the APP design has significant advantages in both transmission and profile shape. Using pulse techniques, partial polarizer systems are shown to be a natural evolution from the standard Lyot and contrast element Lyot systems. The APP filter using achromatic waveplates discussed in earlier papers of this series has been used to construct a universal alternate partial polarizer filter. This filter has a measured full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 0.09 A at 5500 A and a transmission in polarized light of 38%. It is tunable from 4500 A to 8500 A. The measured characteristics of the filter agree well with theoretical predictions.