Full-Field Stokes–Mueller Matrix Imaging Polarimetry System Based on Electro-Optical Modulators

Abstract

A new full-field Stokes-Mueller polarimetry system with no moving parts is proposed for imaging the Mueller matrix of optical samples. The polarization state generator (PSG) of the proposed system contains two electro-optical (EO) modulators to generate six polarization states of the input light, while the polarization state analyzer (PSA) contains two further EO modulators to produce an additional eight polarization states of the light emerging from the sample. A total of 48 polarization states of the output light are thus captured at the detector (a charge couple device (CCD) camera). The feasibility of the proposed system is demonstrated by imaging the Mueller matrixes of blank air and a quarter-wave plate with the fast axis set to the horizontal direction, respectively. It is shown that the proposed system is capable of measuring the Mueller matrix of the two samples with a resolution of 10-2 . In general, the results show that the system provides a convenient and reliable means of imaging the Mueller matrix of optical samples.

Keywords

• Stokes-Mueller matrix polarimetry
• polarization states
• imaging system