Mueller Matrix Polarimetry by Means of Azimuthally Polarized Beams and Adapted Commercial Polarimeter

Abstract

Abstract:A simple method for Mueller matrix polarimetry is proposed. The experimental set up is based on using an azimuthally polarized input beam, which presents all possible linearly polarized states across its transverse section, and an adapted commercial light polarimeter for analyzing the polarization state of the output beam. It will be shown that by measuring the Stokes parameters at only three different positions across the output beam section, the complete Mueller matrix of linear deterministic samples can be easily determined.

Polarimetry with azimuthally polarized light

“…Figure 4 shows the absolute value of the differences between theoretical ideal QWP Mueller matrix elements and the corresponding experimentally obtained ones. As it can be noticed, these differences Table 2: Measured Stokes vectors of the input and output beam, normalized to the maximum input intensity, at three different positions for the case of a QWP at π/6 rad [19]. for a QWP with its axes at 0 (left) and rotated π/6 (right) relative to the x axis [19].…”

“…As it can be noticed, these differences Table 2: Measured Stokes vectors of the input and output beam, normalized to the maximum input intensity, at three different positions for the case of a QWP at π/6 rad [19]. for a QWP with its axes at 0 (left) and rotated π/6 (right) relative to the x axis [19].…”

“…Recently, the use of non uniformly polarized beams has been proposed in order to simultaneously obtain a spatial distribution of SoP's at the entrance of the sample, instead of a time sequence of SoP's [16][17][18][19]. In this case, image analysis of the beam intensity after a polarization state analyzer or direct Stokes parameters measurement at different points of the transverse section of the beam can be performed to obtain the sample's Mueller matrix [18,19].…”

“…Measured Stokes vectors of the input and output beam, normalized to the maximum input intensity, at three different positions for the case of a QWP at 0[19].…”