Decomposition of Jones and Mueller matrices in terms of four basic polarization responses

Abstract

A simple new method is introduced to analyze the polarization of light by media. This method decomposes a Jones matrix into a linear combination of four basic matrices that represent different polarization responses. The Mueller matrix expressed in terms of the response coefficients of the basic matrices demonstrates a highly symmetric form that spells out the physical origins of each matrix element. Randomness in the response coefficients gives rise to depolarization that appears only in the diagonal elements of a Mueller matrix. The decomposition of a Mueller matrix gives both the depolarization and polarization characteristics relating directly to the anisotropic optical properties.

Polarimetric imaging in backscattering for the structural characterization of strongly scattering birefringent fibrous media

“…This polar decomposition is based on the assumption that the probed system is a non-commutative [46,47] chain of optical components (diattenuator, retarder and depolarizer), which does not necessarily do justice to the complexity of the system. Novel decomposition techniques are being developed [30,[48][49][50][51][52] and allow for the generation of alignment maps in tissue and fibrous materials, but fully understanding the underlying physics remains a difficult undertaking.…”

Combined Jones–Stokes Polarimetry and Its Decomposition into Associated Anisotropic Characteristics of Spatial Light Modulator

“…The Jones matrix of an object can be written as a linear combination of four linearly independent (LI) matrices of order 2 × 2 (α, β, γ and δ) as [27]…”

Spatial Light Modulators and Their Applications in Polarization Holography

“…The Jones matrix elements contain the vital information of the SLM, including the amplitude, phase, and anisotropic properties (birefringence, dichroism, retardance, etc. ), which can be easily decomposed using the Jones decomposition methods [32,47]. However, Jones matrix cannot provide the polarization information of the medium, containing depolarization.…”