Orthogonality-breaking polarimetric sensing modalities for selective polarization imaging.

Area of Science:

• Optical remote sensing
• Photonics
• Polarimetry

Background:

• Polarimetric sensing/imaging by orthogonality breaking is a microwave-photonics-inspired technique.
• It excels at characterizing dichroic samples directly and in a single shot.

Purpose of the Study:

• Expand the scope of orthogonality breaking polarimetry.
• Gain sensitivity for birefringent and/or purely depolarizing materials.
• Validate new induced orthogonality-breaking modalities in infrared active imaging.

Main Methods:

• Introduced a circular polarization analyzer for birefringent materials.
• Introduced a linear polarization analyzer for depolarizing materials.
• Experimental validation in the context of infrared active imaging.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated enhanced sensitivity for birefringent materials using circular polarization analysis.
• Showcased enhanced sensitivity for depolarizing materials using linear polarization analysis.
• Successfully validated these novel techniques in infrared active imaging.

Conclusions:

• The expanded polarimetric sensing approach offers improved characterization capabilities.
• These new modalities significantly enhance sensitivity to material properties.
• The validated techniques hold promise for advanced infrared active imaging applications.