Interferometric determination of the refractive indices and birefringence of some highly oriented fibres

Variable wavelength interferometric technique (VAWI) is a direct method for determining the refractive indices and birefringence of highly oriented fibres. This method uses the polarizing interference Pluta microscope with a monochromatic light from wedge interference filter that provides a continuously variable wavelength. The standard calibration process of the Pluta polarizing interference microscope is carried out and a calibration graph is obtained. The refractive indices and birefringence of PEN, CONEX and TECHNORA were measured over the visible range of the spectrum and the constants for the Cauchy's dispersion formula were determined. The oscillation and dispersion energies were calculated from the measurements of the refractive index.