Snapshot broadband polarization imaging based on Mach-Zehnder-grating interferometer

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Remote Sensing Technology
• Polarization Imaging

Background:

• Full polarization imaging is crucial for remote sensing applications.
• Distinguishing artificial objects from natural environments, object recognition in shadows, and sun glint suppression are key challenges.
• Existing systems may lack compactness, affordability, or snapshot capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel broadband full Stokes channeled modulated polarization imaging system.
• To leverage a Mach-Zehnder-grating interferometer (MZGI) for enhanced performance.
• To achieve compact size, low cost, snapshot ability, and high optical efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Development of a Mach-Zehnder-grating interferometer (MZGI) system.
• Utilizing gratings for dispersion compensation of broadband light to generate interference fringes.
• Employing two detectors at the output plane to capture interference fringes.
• Demodulating individual detector images to obtain Stokes parameters and combining them for full Stokes information.

Main Results:

• The proposed MZGI system demonstrates compact size, low cost, and snapshot capability.
• Simulations and optical efficiency analysis confirm high performance in broadband wavelengths.
• The system successfully obtains full polarization information simultaneously with high optical efficiency.

Conclusions:

• The broadband full Stokes channeled modulated polarization imaging system based on MZGI is effective.
• This system offers significant advantages for remote sensing applications requiring detailed polarization information.
• The MZGI approach provides a promising solution for efficient and comprehensive polarization imaging.