Features of the formation of a Maltese cross in conoscopic patterns

摘要

This paper shows that, in general, a double Maltese cross is observed in the conoscopic patterns of plane-parallel crystalline plates. The condition for a double Maltese cross to be observed is that the angle between the transmission axes of the polarizer and analyzer must not equal 0 degrees or 90 degrees. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America.