Optimization and performance criteria of a Stokes polarimeter based on two variable retarders

Abstract

Abstract:In this paper we present the analysis, optimization and implementation of several Stokes polarimeter configurations based on a setup including two variable retarders. The polarimeter analysis is based on the Mueller-Stokes formalism, and as a consequence, it is suitable to deal with depolarized light. Complete Stokes polarimeters are optimized by minimizing the amplification of simulated errors into the final solution. Different indicators useful to achieve this aim, as the condition number or the equally weighted variance, are compared in this paper. Moreover, some of the optimized polarimeters are experimentally implemented and it is studied the influence of small deviations from the theoretical ones on the amplification of the Stokes component error. In addition, the benefit of using incomplete polarimeters, when detecting specific ranges of states of polarization, is discussed.

An overview of polarimetric sensing techniques and technology with applications to different research fields

“…The solid body that is spanned by these four optimal polarization measurements is a tetrahedron, and this construction is widely used with many different implementations. 43,49,50 In general, any modulation cf. an equilateral polygon or Platonic solid inside the Poincaré sphere is optimal with respect to noise propagation to the (fractional) Stokes parameters.…”

Study of Liquid Crystal on Silicon Displays for Their Application in Digital Holography

“…Different sets of incident and analyzer SoPs are valid to this aim but the quality of the measurements will depend on different factors, such as the condition number (Taylor, 1974) of the matrices composed by the incident SoPs and the analyzer SoPs (De Martino et al, 2007;Peinado et al, 2010) or the number of SoPs selected (Peinado et al, 2010). Here, the calculation of the Mueller matrix is conducted as follows:…”

Analysis, optimization and implementation of a variable retardance based polarimeter

“…In section 3, we have demonstrated that these small deviations from the theoretical values still result in a well-conditioned system, but an experimental calibration of the matrix to be used for an accurate detection is 06008-p. 5 EPJ Web of Conferences recommended. To this end, we have employed a method based on the one proposed in [14] and described in [7].…”

“…As a consequence, they are nowadays employed in polarimeter implementations [5][6][7]. Moreover, in order to minimize the amplification of noise (going from radiometric measurements to the state of polarization detection), an optimization procedure is required.…”