Stereoscopic spatial graphical method of Mueller matrix: Global-Polarization Stokes Ellipsoid

Area of Science:

• Optical Physics
• Biomedical Optics
• Polarimetry

Background:

• Mueller matrices contain comprehensive polarization information but are complex to interpret.
• Existing methods struggle to intuitively represent polarization changes in anisotropic samples.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a spatial representation of the Mueller matrix for intuitive analysis.
• To introduce new parameters for quantifying polarization maintenance and anisotropy.
• To demonstrate the application of this new system in dynamic biological processes.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Global-Polarization Stokes Ellipsoid (GPSE) within the Poincaré sphere system.
• Utilizing Monte Carlo simulations and anisotropic tissue models.
• Defining and explaining three characteristic GPSE parameters (V, E, D†).

Main Results:

• The GPSE provides an intuitive spatial representation of Mueller matrix data.
• The V, E, and D† parameters effectively quantify polarization maintenance and anisotropy.
• Dynamic analysis of skeletal muscle dehydration confirmed GPSE's monitoring capabilities, robustness, and accuracy.

Conclusions:

• GPSE offers a powerful tool for interpreting complex polarization data.
• The proposed parameters provide quantitative insights into sample properties.
• GPSE is a valuable method for monitoring dynamic changes in biological tissues.