2-MGEM Optical Anisotropy Factor Measurement System

Hinds Instruments, Inc. (HINDS)

The 2-MGEM Optical Anisotropy Factor Measurement System is a normal-incidence polarization reflection microscope designed to measure the sample Mueller matrix and is a 2008 R&D 100 Award Winner. This system is designed specifically to evaluate the Optical Anisotropy Factor (OPTAF) of cross sections of TRISO nuclear fuel pyrocarbon layers. Other possible material characterizations include measuring Mueller matrix elements of other crystals, carbon compounds, and thin film coatings (e.g. surfacedeposition films) at normal incidence. The 2-MGEM can also measure retardation (d), circular diattenuation (CD) and the polarization factor (ß). These parameters are not measurable using older techniques, since those techniques do not incorporate a compensating optical element.