Phase-shift interference microscope for the investigation of dipole-orientation distributions.

A compact experimental setup for an electro-optical microscope is introduced. The microscope is based on phase-shift interferometry (a well-known tool for surface profilometry) that is modified for measuring electrooptic responses. Its feasibility is demonstrated with a two-dimensional map of the electro-optic activity of a periodically poled nonlinear-optical side-chain polymer.