Full-Stokes imaging polarimeter using an array of elliptical polarizer

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Polarimetry
• Instrument Development

Background:

• Polarimetry is crucial for characterizing light polarization states.
• Full-Stokes polarimetry provides complete polarization information.
• Existing methods may have limitations in accuracy or efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel full-Stokes imaging polarimeter operating at 580 nm.
• To demonstrate an optimized design using an array of elliptical polarizers.
• To evaluate the performance of the developed instrument.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a division-of-focal-plane architecture.
• Employed a set of four optimized measurements forming a regular tetrahedron on the Poincaré sphere.
• Fabricated, calibrated, and characterized the imaging polarimeter.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated and calibrated the full-Stokes imaging polarimeter.
• Characterization confirmed the instrument's operational capabilities.
• The optimized polarimeter demonstrated a fivefold improvement in performance compared to a simple design, specifically in the standard deviation of the degree of circular polarization.

Conclusions:

• The developed full-Stokes imaging polarimeter is a high-performance instrument.
• The optimized measurement strategy significantly enhances accuracy.
• This technology advances capabilities in polarization-sensitive imaging and analysis.