Metasurface-enabled compact, single-shot and complete Mueller matrix imaging

TL;DR

This paper presents a compact, single-shot Mueller matrix imaging system using metasurfaces that captures complete polarization information without moving parts, enabling real-time applications in various fields.

Contribution

The work introduces a minimalist metasurface-based system capable of full Mueller matrix imaging in a single shot, eliminating the need for traditional bulky polarization optics.

Findings

Successfully demonstrated single-shot Mueller matrix imaging

Achieved compact and lightweight system design

Potential for real-time polarization imaging applications

Abstract

When light scatters off an object its polarization, in general, changes - a transformation described by the object's Mueller matrix. Mueller matrix imaging polarimetry is an important technique in science and technology to image the spatially varying polarization response of an object of interest, to reveal rich information otherwise invisible to traditional imaging. In this work, we conceptualize, implement and demonstrate a compact and minimalist Mueller matrix imaging system - composed of a metasurface to produce structured polarization illumination, and a metasurface for polarization analysis - that can, in a single shot, acquire images for all sixteen components of an object's spatially varying Mueller matrix. Our implementation, which is free of any moving parts or bulk polarization optics, should enable and empower applications in real-time medical imaging, material characterization, machine vision, target detection, and other important areas.