Parameter Calibration of Rotating Wave Plate Polarization Detection Device Using Dual Beams

Area of Science:

• Optical metrology
• Polarimetry
• Instrument calibration

Background:

• Accurate Stokes parameter measurement is crucial for polarization-based applications.
• Existing rotating wave plate methods are limited by polarizer and wave plate errors, affecting precision.
• Current calibration techniques often lack comprehensive error analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an accurate and reliable calibration method for Stokes parameter measurement using the rotating wave plate technique.
• To address limitations in existing calibration methods by considering multiple error sources.
• To improve the precision of polarization detection devices.

Main Methods:

• Constructed an error-transfer analytical model for the rotating wave plate method.
• Established quantitative relationships between measurement, wave plate, and polarizer errors.
• Proposed a calibration scheme using multi-angle polarized light and an error equation derived from theoretical and actual measurement data.

Main Results:

• The proposed calibration method significantly reduced Stokes parameter calibration error from 4.83% to within 0.46%.
• The method effectively addresses limitations of traditional techniques by comprehensively considering error parameters.
• Achieved a more concise and reliable approach for high-precision polarization measurement.

Conclusions:

• The developed error-transfer model and calibration scheme provide a robust solution for accurate Stokes parameter determination.
• This method enhances the reliability and precision of polarization detection devices.
• Offers a significant advancement for high-accuracy optical metrology applications.