Design and performance analysis of a single-unit polarizing beam-splitting prism based on negative refraction in a uniaxial crystal.

A new type of single-unit polarizing beam-splitting prism is proposed based on negative refraction and total internal reflection in uniaxial crystals. The performance of the proposed design is studied theoretically and experimentally using a calcite prism. The results indicate that the single-unit negative refraction polarization-splitting prism can yield a maximum splitting angle of 19.5 degrees (for an incident light wavelength of 633 nm), whereby the splitting angle is insensitive to changes in the incidence angle. The proposed structure exhibits good stability and reliability. The design is beneficial to application in special working environments involving intense vibration and increased radiation. (C) 2019 Optical Society of America