Retardagraphy: a technique for optical recording of the retardance pattern of an optical anisotropic object on a polarization-sensitive film using a single beam.

A technique that employs a single laser beam is proposed for recording the retardance of an optical anisotropic object. The retardance pattern is converted into a polarization pattern using a quarter-wave plate and recorded on a polarization-sensitive medium. The recording medium is illuminated by homogeneous polarized light, and the light transmitted by the recording medium is analyzed to reconstruct the recorded retardance pattern.