Classical polarimetry with a twist: a compact, geometric approach

TL;DR

This paper introduces a compact, robust, and no-moving-parts polarimeter that encodes full polarization information in a single data frame using spatial encoding, enabling rapid and broadband measurements.

Contribution

The authors propose a novel spatial encoding approach for classical polarimetry that replaces rotating components with position-dependent modulation, simplifying design and enabling single-frame measurements.

Findings

Achieves full Stokes parameter measurement in a single data frame.

Provides near-achromatic performance across wavelengths.

Enables rapid measurement of transient and moving targets.

Abstract

We present an approach to classical polarimetry that requires no moving parts, is compact and robust, and that encodes the complete polarization information on a single data frame, accomplished by replacing the rotation of components such as wave plates with position along a spatial axis. We demonstrate the concept with a polarimeter having a quarter wave plate whose fast axis direction changes with location along one axis of a 2D data frame in conjunction with a fixed-direction polarization analyzer, analogous to a classical rotating quarter wave plate polarimeter. The full set of Stokes parameters is obtained, with maximal sensitivity to circular polarization Stokes V if a quarter wave retarder is used. Linear and circular polarization terms are encoded with spatial carrier frequencies that differ by a factor two, which minimizes cross-talk. Other rotating component polarimeters lend themselves to the approach. Since the polarization modulation spatial frequencies do not change greatly, if at all, with wavelength such devices are close to achromatic, simplifying instrument design. Since the polarimetric information is acquired in a single observation, rapidly varying, transient and moving targets are accessible, loss of precision due to sequential data acquisition is avoided, and moving parts are not required.