Holistic and efficient calibration method for Mueller matrix imaging polarimeter with a high numerical aperture

Area of Science:

• Optical Engineering
• Biomedical Optics
• Polarimetry

Background:

• High-numerical aperture Mueller matrix imaging polarimeters (high-NA MMIPs) are crucial for high-resolution imaging.
• Conventional MMIPs face limitations due to short working distances, hindering in situ calibration and preventing substrate polarization effect calibration.
• These limitations impede advancements in MMIP resolution and accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a holistic and efficient calibration method for high-NA MMIPs.
• To address the challenge of calibrating polarization effects from devices, subsystems, and substrates simultaneously.
• To enhance the resolution and accuracy of high-NA MMIPs for advanced applications.

Main Methods:

• Introduced a novel calibration method using film polarizers, a film retarder, and a blank substrate as reference samples.
• Established a holistic calibration theory and process, distinct from conventional eigenvalue calibration methods (ECM).
• Integrated calibration for all polarimetric errors originating from the instrument and the sample substrate into a single process.

Main Results:

• Achieved a normalized measurement error of less than 0.0024 for a NA 0.95 MMIP.
• Demonstrated an order of magnitude improvement in measurement error compared to lower NA MMIPs reported in literature.
• Validated the performance of the calibrated high-NA MMIP through tissue polarimetry, showing enhanced resolution, accuracy, and dynamic range.

Conclusions:

• The developed holistic calibration method is effective for high-NA MMIPs.
• This method significantly reduces polarimetric errors, enabling higher resolution and accuracy.
• The calibrated high-NA MMIP shows promise for advanced biomedical imaging and polarimetry applications.