A Polarimetric Wavefront Imager

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel single-shot vector-beam lateral shearing interferometer capable of simultaneously capturing the wavefront and polarization state of light in ultra-fast processes, using a patterned polarization-modulating Hartmann mask.

Contribution

The paper presents a new interferometric device that encodes wavefront and polarization information in a single image, enabling real-time monitoring of rapid optical phenomena.

Findings

Successful encoding of wavefront and polarization in a single fringe pattern

Potential for real-time, ultra-fast polarization and wavefront imaging

Compact design suitable for dynamic optical measurements

Abstract

Imaging both the polarization and the wavefront of a light beam is a complex task that typically demands several intensity acquisitions. Furthermore, sequential acquisition solutions are incompatible with the monitoring of ultra-fast processes. As a possible solution for single-shot wavefront and full-Stokes polarimetric imaging, we propose here a vector-beam lateral shearing interferometer. The device, composed of a patterned polarization-modulating Hartmann mask placed in the close vicinity of a camera, encodes all the information in the fringe pattern of a single image acquisition.