Determination of absolute retardations by vectorial reconstruction

In this paper is described the application of the vectorial reconstruction to the holographic determination of absolute retardation fringes. The method requires a double-exposure hologram recorded with two reference beams. During the reconstruction process the image emerging from the hologram is viewed through a linear polarizer. Where the polarization direction is parallel to one of the principal stresses, only the corresponding family of absolute retardations is observed. By rotating the polarizer it is possible to observe the fringes over the whole model. The method is demonstrated experimentally using a deep beam centrally loaded.