V. N. Kuryatov, A. L. Sokolov*
Research Institute "Polus", Moscow
*Moscow Power Engineering Institute
The nonreciprocity of frequencies
of counter-propagating waves and polarization characteristics of a ring
resonator formed by totally reflecting prisms are studied. This resonator
is shown to be characterized by the formation of polarization-inhomogeneous
waves whose ellipsometric parameters depend on transverse coordinates.
This is caused, on the one hand, by the spatial distribution of anisotropy
in stressed totally reflecting prisms and, on the other hand, by the disagreement
between the radii of curvature of the radiation wavefront and the optical
surfaces of prisms. Polarization-inhomogeneous elements produce additional
polarization loss, but have no effect on the nonreciprocity of frequencies
of counter-propagating waves of a ring resonator in the absence of magnetic
field.