Compact and robust method for full Stokes spectropolarimetry

Sparks, W. B.; Germer, Thomas A.; MacKenty, John; Snik, Frans

doi:10.1364/ao.51.005495

Cited by 55 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Birefringent wedges, generally known as polarization scramblers, can be used to create this spatial modulation [8]. Combined with a linear polarizer and a spectrograph, we can create a static spectropolarimeter working over a wide spectral range.…”

Section: B2 Modulation Of the Polarization Statementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Combining a single birefringent wedge with a linear polarizer cannot measure the full Stokes vector, but only two of the three Stokes parameters in addition to the intensity I (see more details in Sparks et al (2012) [8]). To solve this problem and obtain a full Stokes determination, we need to add a second birefringent prism with a slope (or apex angle) twice as large as the one of the first wedge.…”

Section: A Global Principlementioning

confidence: 99%

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Static spectropolarimeter concept adapted to space conditions and wide spectrum constraints

et al. 2015

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The issues related to moving elements in space and instruments working in broader wavelength ranges lead to a need for robust polarimeters, efficient on a wide spectral domain, and adapted to space conditions. As part of the UVMag consortium, created to develop spectropolarimetric UV facilities in space, such as the Arago mission project, we present an innovative concept of static spectropolarimetry. We studied a static and polychromatic method for spectropolarimetry, applicable to stellar physics. Instead of modulating the polarization information temporally, as usually done in spectropolarimeters, the modulation is performed in a spatial direction, orthogonal to the spectral one. Thanks to the proportionality between phase retardance imposed by a birefringent material and its thickness, birefringent wedges can be used to create this spatial modulation. The light is then spectrally cross-dispersed, and a full-Stokes determination of the polarization over the whole spectrum can be obtained with a single-shot measurement. The use of Magnesium Fluoride wedges, for example, could lead to a compact, static polarimeter working at wavelengths from 0.115 µm up to 7 µm. We present the theory and simulations of this concept, as well as laboratory validation and a practical application to Arago.

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Section: B2 Modulation Of the Polarization Statementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: A Global Principlementioning

confidence: 99%

Static spectropolarimeter concept adapted to space conditions and wide spectrum constraints

et al. 2015

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“…Recently, many authors have concentrated their efforts on developing one-shot polarimeters. These devices generate the four polarimetric distributions using birefringent components or specially designed camera sensors [8][9][10][11]. This technology is becoming commercial and nowadays different companies are developing real-time singleshot polarimetric cameras.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polarimetric 3D integral imaging in photon-starved conditions

Carnicer

Javidi

2015

Opt. Express

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Abstract:We develop a method for obtaining 3D polarimetric integral images from elemental images recorded in low light illumination conditions. Since photon-counting images are very sparse, calculation of the Stokes parameters and the degree of polarization should be handled carefully. In our approach, polarimetric 3D integral images are generated using the Maximum Likelihood Estimation and subsequently reconstructed by means of a Total Variation Denoising filter. In this way, polarimetric results are comparable to those obtained in conventional illumination conditions. We also show that polarimetric information retrieved from photon starved images can be used in 3D object recognition problems. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on 3D polarimetric photon counting integral imaging.

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“…Complex optical systems that need to be carefully aligned, or that have moving parts, are not ideal for launch or flight conditions. Polarimeters that utilize photo-elastic modulators have overcome some of these challenges, but the components are fragile and will not operate properly at cryogenic temperatures required for infrared wavelengths [11].A solution to these problems is a polarimeter design based on Wollaston prisms that induces an angular displacement of light in the Fourier (i.e., pupil) plane in a way that depends on the polarization state. This concept is analogous to the way a grating spectrometer induces an angular displacement that depends on wavelength [10,12].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Triple Wollaston-prism complete-Stokes imaging polarimeter

Perreault

2013

Opt. Lett.

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Imaging polarimetry is emerging as a powerful tool for remote sensing in space science, Earth science, biology, defense, national security, and industry. Polarimetry provides complementary information about a scene in the visible and infrared wavelengths. For example, surface texture, material composition, and molecular structure will affect the polarization state of reflected, scattered, or emitted light. We demonstrate an imaging polarimeter design that uses three Wollaston prisms, addressing several technical challenges associated with moving remote-sensing platforms. This compact design has no moving polarization elements and separates the polarization components in the pupil (or Fourier) plane, analogous to the way a grating spectrometer works. In addition, this concept enables simultaneous characterization of unpolarized, linear, and circular components of optical polarization. The results from a visible-wavelength prototype of this imaging polarimeter are presented, demonstrating remote sensitivity to material properties. Light has several physical properties that are useful for remote sensing applications in space science, Earth science, biology, defense, national security, and industry. The intensity and wavelength of light has been used widely to gain spatial and spectral information from a scene. However, polarization has not been as extensively investigated for imaging applications, although some exciting applications are starting to be explored. [6], and the search for biological activity on other planets [7]. There are even some animals, such as the mantis shrimp, that have evolved sophisticated polarimetric visual systems to obtain valuable information from their environment, and are sensitive to all the polarization components of light [8]. These applications stem from the basic interaction of light with a solid surface, liquid surface, or gas. The lightmatter interactions alter the amplitude and phase of polarization states in a way that depends on material properties. For example, conductive materials have a complex index of refraction that will cause a phase-shift between orthogonal polarization states, generating elliptically polarized light [9]. This effect can provide contrast between conductive and nonconductive matter, enabling material discrimination and artificial object detection. The total degree of polarization is also affected by the texture and topology of a surface, and requires complete knowledge of all the polarized and unpolarized components for unambiguous characterization. In addition, all known biological systems have evolved to prefer a particular chirality (or handedness) of organic molecules. This asymmetry in the occurrence of stereoisomers can lead to a unique polarization signal through circular dichroism or optical activity [7,10]. In order to exploit these phenomena one needs to build a polarimeter that can measure both linear and circular polarization, using a robust design that is suitable for a moving platform. In this Letter we put forth a new scanning-polarimet...

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Compact and robust method for full Stokes spectropolarimetry

Cited by 55 publications

References 22 publications

Static spectropolarimeter concept adapted to space conditions and wide spectrum constraints

Static spectropolarimeter concept adapted to space conditions and wide spectrum constraints

Polarimetric 3D integral imaging in photon-starved conditions

Triple Wollaston-prism complete-Stokes imaging polarimeter

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