Interferometric spectropolarimetry: alternate experimental methods

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Spectroscopy
• Polarimetry

Background:

• Fourier spectroscopy is a powerful technique for spectral analysis.
• Measuring the polarization state of light is crucial in various scientific fields.
• Existing methods for polarization analysis can be complex or limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose three novel methods for obtaining spectra of light intensity and polarization state.
• To utilize a two-beam amplitude division interferometer with Fourier spectroscopy.
• To explore applications for source, emerging, or detector beams.

Main Methods:

• Employing a two-beam interferometer with Fourier spectroscopy.
• Utilizing a single analyzer with three orientations (Method 2).
• Using a polarizer with three orientations in the incident beam (Method 3).
• A hybrid method combining polarizer and analyzer (Method 4).

Main Results:

• Method 2 determines all four Stokes parameters.
• Methods 3 and 4 do not yield the ellipticity parameter.
• All methods require three interferograms, but two suffice for intensity and degree of polarization.
• Rigorous theory for an earlier method (Method 1) is established.

Conclusions:

• The proposed Fourier spectroscopy methods offer versatile approaches to light polarization analysis.
• These techniques eliminate the need for polarizers within the interferometer arms.
• Method 2 provides comprehensive polarization state determination, including Stokes parameters.