Abstract:
A reflecting assembly for polarized white light includes at least one mirror associated with a birefringent compensator preventing the reflected light from having a large phase anisotropy. The mirror or mirrors are metallic and covered with a protective silica layer having a geometric thickness of from 0 to about 400A. The birefringent compensator is a crystalline plate of predetermined thickness depending upon the thickness of the protective layer. Known compensators may be used in place of the birefringent plate.