A New Calculus for the Treatment of Optical SystemsIII The Sohncke Theory of Optical Activity

Reusch and Sohncke have examined the properties of a system containing a large number n of identical retardation plates, each of which is rotated with respect to the one preceding it through the angle ω. The product of n and ω must be equal to μπ, where μ is an integer. Under certain conditions this system is optically equivalent to a simple rotator. This system, which would be very difficult to examine by ordinary methods, is given a treatment which is completely rigorous and which is more general than any given heretofore.