A Martin-Puplett interferometer (MPI) optical polarimeter: Design and laboratory tests

Spontaneous and external magnetic fields interacting with plasmas are essential in high-energy-density and magnetic confinement fusion physics. Measuring these magnetic fields, especially their topologies, is crucial. This paper develops a new type of optical polarimeter based on the Martin-Puplett interferometer (MPI), which can probe magnetic fields with the Faraday rotation method. We introduce the design and working principle of an MPI polarimeter. With the laboratory tests, we demonstrate the measurement process and compare the results with the measurement result of a Gauss meter. These very close results verify the polarization detection capability of the MPI polarimeter and show the potential for its application in magnetic field measurement.