Creating a custom plot-birefringence

The default birefringence results show stress-optical effects for light coming from one of two global axial directions (+Z, -Z) and for light of a fixed wavelength (546.1 nm).

If these choices are inadequate (for instance, your model is oriented so that the important optical direction is a different axis), you can create a custom plot showing results for light originating from any other direction and of any wavelength.

Note: This plot is available only if you have selected the Birefringence analysis if material data includes optical properties checkbox in the Fill+Pack page of the process settings wizard and the material has measured optical properties.
  1. Define a local coordinate system so that any one of the three cardinal axes (X, Y, or Z) is pointing towards the direction from which the light is coming.
  2. Click Custom (Results tab > Plots panel > New Plot) and select Custom from the drop down list.
  3. Select Birefringence from the Create Custom Plot pane.
  4. Enter a name for the plot in the Plot Name text box.
  5. Select the local coordinate system and the axis which points towards the light source.
  6. Choose one of the three plot types Phase shift, Retardation or Retardance tensor. For Phase shift, enter a wavelength.
  7. Click OK.

The plot is displayed and the plot name is listed in the Study Tasks pane under User-Defined Plots.